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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e699dca --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52899 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52899) diff --git a/old/52899-0.txt b/old/52899-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index c004ae0..0000000 --- a/old/52899-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2716 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wonderful Stories of Fuz-Buz the Fly -and Mother Grabem the Spider, by Silas Wier Mitchell - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Wonderful Stories of Fuz-Buz the Fly and Mother Grabem the Spider - -Author: Silas Wier Mitchell - -Release Date: August 26, 2016 [EBook #52899] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FUZ-BUZ THE FLY *** - - - - -Produced by MWS, Christian Boissonnas and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - -[Illustration] - - - - - THE - - WONDERFUL STORIES - - OF - - FUZ-BUZ THE FLY - - AND - - MOTHER GRABEM - - THE - - SPIDER. - - - - - PHILADELPHIA - J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., - 1867. - - - - - Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by - - J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., - - In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District - of Pennsylvania. - - - - -[Illustration] - - -MRS. GRABEM AND FUZ-BUZ. - - -Mrs. Grabem was a hairy spider who knit cobwebs and caught flies and -brought up a small household of nine young spiders. - -When I first knew this happy family, and learned all the wonderful -things they heard and did, their home was as pretty a place as a spider -need want. Their web was spun to and fro across the crotch of an old -apple tree, and when they looked down they could see the green grass, -and when they looked up they could see the great jolly red apples which -must have looked to those young spiders just as the stars look to our -own young folks. - -On one side of their web, Mrs. Grabem had knit with great labour a long -dark cave all of cobweb, where the family slept at night, and where -they lay trembling while the great winds blew and the tree rocked and -bent. - -One fine breezy morning in June, when the leaves above were clapping -their palms for joy at growing, and when the birds were tossing little -love songs to one another, the old lady sat mending her web which a -great wasp had broken. Meanwhile, the young spiders chased each other -along one thread and down another and shook the dew from the web as -they played. - -"Ah!" said the eldest of them, as he saw it sparkle in the sun, "these -must be the diamonds we have heard about." - -"No," said another, "they look to me blue, they are turquoises." - -"Geese!" said a third, who was on a distant part of the web, "they are -drops of gold, any one can see they are yellow." - -At this they fell to abusing each other, when suddenly the old lady -cried out, "Foolish children, if you change places you will see that -each of you is right. You make me think of a tale which my grandmother -used to tell me. It is a story which has come down in our family from -your ancestor who gave Robert Bruce such very good advice without ever -saying a word. You know that the king was looking at the spider when he -was swinging a line, striving to fasten it. The spider having tried six -times was about to stop, for before this spiders never tried more than -six times. But when he looked up and saw the king he knew just what was -needed to give him courage, and therefore it was that the spider made -one more mighty effort, and so at last made fast the web. - -"Thus you see that our ancestor invented trying seven times, although -I think the Bruce usually gets more credit than the spider. When this -wise spider grew older he went to Spain in the helmet of the good -Lord Douglas who was killed by the Moors, so that they got his helmet -and your great-great-great-grandfather, who kept quiet enough in the -darkest corner until he was carried to Granada, where he lived a long -while and found the flies many, and tender, and of good flavour. And -this was one of his stories which he had gotten at Granada, when he lay -among the Moors." - -Then all the young spiders listened, and the old mother spider began. - -"One night the King Almanzor was walking alone when he overheard three -water-carriers gossiping. - -"'I would not be the King,' said Amric, the first who spoke. 'Every -morning before prayers I peep through a crack in the wall of the Palace -garden, and always I see the King grave and sober, just when the sun is -rising red and the birds are laughing and telling their dreams. I would -not be a King, to look sober at dawn every day in the year. A grave man -is the King.' - -"'Bosh!' said the second, whose name was Hassan. 'The King is a sad -man. He must have done some evil in his youth, for just before noon-day -prayers I look into the Palace garden from my window, and lo! always -the King kneels weeping at the great fountain, which we call the forest -of waters.' - -"'And I,' cried Amrah, 'think ye both wrong. A merry man is King -Almanzor. For ever at evening, when the minarets call to prayer, I have -seen the King at the fountain laughing, always laughing, always glad. A -foolish man must the King be to laugh at nothing.' - -"'He's too sober,' said one. - -"'Too sad,' cried the second. - -"'Too merry,' said the third. - -"Then each held to his own opinion, and abused the others, until from -words they came to blows. - -"This roused the guard, who seized upon the whole three, and was taking -them away, when the King whispered to the Captain to bring them to the -Palace the next day. - -"Accordingly in the morning they were brought to the King in the garden -before prayer time. - -"'I hear,' said Almanzor, 'that you talked of me last night. It is said -that you think me sober, sad, and foolish.' - -"Not one of them answered. - -"'I will think of your crime, and how you shall be punished. Begone, -and return hither at noon.' - -"At noon-tide they were brought again to the King, who said to them -gravely, 'You have abused the King. You shall die to-morrow.' - -"'Woe is me!" cried they all, and as they were led away the King stayed -weeping by the water's edge. - -"But at evening, the guard took them out yet once more, and this time -the King was merry, and the sound of music mocked their sadness. - -"'You are pardoned,' said the King Almanzor. 'Judge not lightly of me -again. In the morning I reflect on the crimes which I have to judge, -and then I am grave. At noon I condemn some to die, and then ever I -weep. But at night-fall I pardon the least guilty, and then always I am -glad at heart. Be ye also merry to-night, and to-morrow wiser.' - -"And thus saying, the King gave them a purse of gold and turned away." - -"What a little story," cried the young spiders. - -"Hush!" answered Mrs. Grabem. "Now I must mend this hole in our cobweb. -But, bless me! run to the den. Here comes a big fly." - -Quick as could be they all ran into the dark passage and Mrs. Grabem -stayed at the door. Pretty soon the fly flew near. He was a handsome -gay fellow all over gold and purple and sparkling in the sun-light. He -thought he would have a little of the nice gum which flowed from the -apple tree bark, so he flew nearer, but just as he alighted his legs -caught in the net and then what a fuss he made! Buz, Buz, and pulled -and bit, but it was in vain, for he was held fast by a long cobweb -which allowed him to go a little way but no further. - -Then Mrs. Grabem ran out, and pulled at the web, and drew him near, -when all the little spiders began to sing, "We shall have a good -breakfast." - -"What! do you mean to eat me?" said Fuz-buz, the Fly. "I never hurt -you." - -"Oh no," said Mrs. Grabem, "you will do us a great deal of good very -soon. You are a queer-looking fly any how. I hope you won't disagree -with my children. Where do you live?" - -"In Spain," replied Fuz-buz proudly. "I am a Spanish fly." - -"Dear me," cried one of the spiders, "perhaps you can tell us some -stories." - -"I know a thousand fairy tales," said Fuz-buz. - -"Oh mamma!" said one fat little spider, "It would be a shame to eat a -thousand stories all at once. Let us keep him until he tells us nine -hundred and ninety-nine tales, and then we can eat him afterwards." - -"That I call good advice," cried Mrs. Grabem, and at once she fastened -the cobweb so that poor Fuz-buz could walk just a little way from the -web and no farther. - -"And now," said she, "twice a day you must tell my children a story. -But never let me find you trying to get away or I will eat you in a -moment." - -The young spiders could hardly wait. - -"Quick!" they cried, "a story!" "a story!" - -"What about?" replied Fuz-buz, glad to be spared. - -"Oh about men, big men like Robert Bruce," said they, "and about a -Princess too." - -"Very well," returned Fuz-buz, "Don't eat me, and I will tell you no -end of stories and the first shall be about - - -LADY GOLDEN HAIR AND HER TWO LOVERS, PRINCE CLEVER AND PRINCE STURDY. - -"A long while ago, and far far away, a lady lived who had such -beautiful locks that the people named her Lady Golden Hair. Folks said -that when she was little, her fairy Godmother had so well woven three -strands of sunshine with her curly tresses that it never got loose -again, and I suppose this must have been so, because when at night she -walked in the garden all the flowers woke up and looked about thinking -the daylight had come. - -"All day long her maidens combed her hair with combs of gold, and at -evening sang to her of the beautiful Prince who would one day come -across the seas and win her love for evermore. - -"Many came and looked into her deep brown eyes, but none suited her, -and so she shook her golden hair, and they went their ways again. - -"At length her Father the King said she must make up her mind to marry -somebody. - -"The Princess said, 'I will marry no one who does not own a Roc's egg, -and no one who has not kissed me, and no one who has not a lock of hair -to show exactly like my own. And no one shall kiss me, and no one ever -shall have a lock of my hair, and where on earth will any one get a -Roc's egg? And so how shall I ever be married? No, I never will marry -anybody.' - -"At this her Father was in despair, but as he thought that perhaps some -one might be bright enough to outwit the Princess, he caused it to be -proclaimed everywhere that the Lady Golden Hair would marry the man who -had kissed her, and who could show a lock of hair just like hers, and -who owned a Roc's egg. - -"When her lovers heard this they all cried and went away, except two -who were named Prince Clever and Prince Sturdy. - -"Prince Clever was handsome and tall, and very cunning, because he was -a Sorcerer's son, but Prince Sturdy was brave and straightforward, and -had honest eyes of his own which were brown as garnets and as steady as -stars. - -"Now when these two heard about the Princess, and what must be done to -marry her, Prince Clever said, 'I am so cunning that I shall be sure to -succeed;' but Prince Sturdy said, 'Thorns are roses to those who love! -I will try.' - -"When the Princess saw them she wished silently that Prince Sturdy -might succeed; still she only said, 'How foolish you both must be. Do -either of you own a Roc's egg?' and then she bade them good-bye and -they kissed their hands to her and rode away by different paths till -each of them entered a wood where they dismounted, and thought how to -get a Roc's egg. 'Then,' said Clever, 'I see;' but Sturdy said, 'I will -ride till I find one.' - -"About a thousand miles away, across a great sea, lived a Roc who had -just laid an egg as big as a house and as hard as marble. No one knew -where she lived except a witch, to whose cave in a great hill Prince -Clever rode swiftly. - -"Because he was a Sorcerer's son the witch came out to speak to him. -But, meanwhile, Prince Sturdy having become lost in the woods rode on, -until at night-fall he heard voices. - -"Then he alighted and clambered over the hill and lay quiet until he -heard to his delight the witch telling Clever where to get the Roc's -egg. - -"As quick as could be Sturdy got on his horse and rode away as hard as -ever a man could ride. By and by he came to the sea, where he hired a -ship, and sailed many days to a desolate land where was nothing but -hills of gray sand. - -"Here he went on shore and sent the ship away. Then, drawing his sword, -he climbed a great sand hill and after two days reached the top. There -he saw in a mighty nest the great egg, as white and smooth as ivory. - -"As soon as the Roc flew away to get her dinner the Prince came near -and began to crack a big hole in the egg with his sword. Presently all -the insides of the egg ran out of the hole and nearly drowned him. When -it was well emptied and the whole of it had flowed away to the sea, the -Prince put his bag of cakes into the egg, and then his sword, and at -last squeezed himself in. - -"He was just able to thrust his turban into the hole, when the Roc flew -home to her nest. - -"When she left her nest once more Sturdy made a nice little opening as -big as a pea, so that he could just see through it. And what think you -he saw? - -"There were two ships on the sea, and Prince Clever with a hundred men. -Very soon they came up the hill and began to push the egg and to heave -it over with crow-bars and beams of wood, until it rolled to the edge -of the sand heap. Then to Prince Sturdy's horror the egg began to turn -over and over down the hill to the sea. - -"Fast it went, and faster and faster, while Sturdy tumbled over and -over, and was on his head one minute, and on his heels the next, -till at last splash went the egg into the water and floated lightly on -the rolling waves. - -[Illustration] - -"Very soon the sailors tied a rope around the egg, and fastened the -other end to their ships, and sailed away rejoicing. - -"In this manner they sailed many weeks, until poor Sturdy had eaten his -last cake and was nearly starved to death. - -"When at last they came to land, the egg was hoisted on to a huge car, -and a hundred horses drew it to the Palace of the Princess Golden Hair, -while Prince Clever rode alongside as happy as could be. - -"When the lady saw Clever and the egg she was ready to cry with -vexation, because she knew there was only one Roc's egg in the world, -and because Prince Clever had gotten it. - -"Soon her father called her to welcome the Prince, and every one went -to see the egg, while the music sounded and the people hurrahed for -Prince Clever. - -"As soon as he saw the lady he ran and knelt and said, 'Princess, here -is my Roc's egg.' - -"Then a voice was heard saying, 'No, it is mine!' - -"'Who spoke?' said Clever. - -"'I,' said the voice, 'It is mine!' - -"But no one could tell where the voice came from. - -"At last the Chief Magician cried aloud, 'Who dares to mock the King?' - -"Then said the voice, 'Oh great Magician, who owns the house, he who -lives in it, or he who looks at it?' - -"'He who lives in it,' answered the Magician. - -"'Then it is my egg,' said Sturdy, as he broke away the shell and -stepped out of the hole in the side of the egg. - -[Illustration.] - -"'Ah,' said the lady to herself, 'what beautiful eyes he has.' But -Prince Clever smote his breast, and the people hurrahed for Prince -Sturdy. - -"Meanwhile Sturdy knelt to the Lady. 'Ah,' said he, 'it is easy to live -in a Roc's egg, or to storm a city for a Lady's love, but to kiss her -and to find hair like thine, woe is me! How can these things be done?' - -"As for Clever, he smiled, and said to himself, 'It is hard to bring a -Roc's egg home, but to cheat a woman with a lock of hair and to steal a -kiss is easy.' - -"After Prince Clever had eaten and rested the two Princes kissed their -hands to the lady and rode away once more to find a tress of hair which -should be like that of the Princess. - -"Now what did Prince Clever do to get the lady? He went into the -country to see his fairy godmother and to ask her advice, and this was -what she told him to do. - -"He was to dress himself like a pedlar and was to take with him a -beautiful great opal, and afterwards he was to do other things which -presently you shall hear of. - -"When the Fairy told him all these things he said, 'Ah Godmother, -how shall I make my nose long and my mouth big and ugly so as to be -like a real pedlar?' - -"'Well my dear,' she replied, 'that is easy,' and so saying she put a -forefinger into the two corners of his mouth and pulled it until one -corner was under each ear. - -[Illustration.] - -"'I think that will do,' she said, 'and as to your nose, take a pinch -of this snuff.' - -"No sooner had he done as she desired than he began to sneeze so hard -that in five minutes the end of his delicate nose was blown out into a -great round purple knob, which was so bright that he could not keep -from squinting to get a look at it. - -"'I do not think any one will know you now,' said the Fairy, 'but be -careful not to open your mouth very wide or possibly your head may fall -off backwards.' - -"'Upon my word,' cried the Prince when he looked at his face in a -smooth pool of water, 'If I be as cunning as I am ugly I shall surely -win the Lady!' - -"The Fairy then gave him a little red cloak, and bade him walk like an -old man and be careful. - -"Finally she placed in his basket a gold box containing the magical -opal. - -[Illustration.] - -"When he had left her she drew a ring on the ground and stood within -it, and enchanted the Lady Golden Hair with wicked words, so that for -four days and nights she had no sleep, because the instant her lids -closed she dreamed that nine beautiful ladies were kissing Prince -Sturdy, and that he was also kissing one of them and the one he kissed -was not herself. - -"So it was that all these days she lay awake angry, and all the while -Prince Clever rode fiercely to her garden gate. - -"Near by he hid his horse, and walking like an old man came to the -Palace slowly and asked to see the Lady. - -"The guard laughed at his nose and told him the Princess was ill and -could not sleep. - -"'It is well,' answered he, 'I have a charm here to bring her sleep.' - -"As soon as this was known he was quickly ordered to the chamber of the -Princess, where resting on a couch she lay, while her ladies fanned her -with fans made of fresh flowers which every ten minutes were brought to -them by slaves. - -"Although she felt very badly from want of sleep no sooner did she see -the Prince with his new face than she began to laugh until she cried -with mirth. 'For tears,' said Saadi the poet, 'are the diamonds of -affliction and the pearls of merriment.' - -"After a time however the Princess grew silent, although she did not -dare to look at him when he talked. Now this was what he said,—'Here is -an amulet for them that sleep not, or sleeping have evil dreams. Let -thy ladies leave thee, and in a moment thou shalt sleep.' - -"'Instantly begone!' cried the Princess to her maidens. 'Fly! I have -no fears. Let a slave with a drawn scimetar keep the door and leave me -with this wise and astonishing man.' - -"Then, when there were none in the room but the Lady and himself, the -Prince opened his gold box and lifted out of it a large opal which -shone with a dim gray sleepy lustre with points of red and purple light. - -"When he held the jewel up before her eyes she said, 'It has letters on -it. What be they? What do they mean?' - -"'The words,' he replied, 'are the names of the nine most stupid books -that ever were written, and within is the name of the sleepiest man -that ever lived, and also the name of a very young baby who slept every -night all night long.' - -"'It is well,' said the Princess. 'Let me sleep.' - -"'Rise!' said the Prince, and she stood erect while he held the opal -before her eyes, and the golden flow of her hair fell from head to -neck and from waist to floor in curves of darkling gold like the early -sunlight when it is yet touched with the fading brown of twilight. - -"As she gazed fixedly at the jewel her eyelids closed, and drowsy -languor grew upon her face, till at last she swayed backwards and fell -upon the couch. - -"Then the Prince laid the jewel on the floor and crushed it with his -foot. As it brake, a rosy flame flashed from it, and a heavy odorous -smoke curled upwards and filled the room with dense vapour. - -"Then the Prince took a long lock of her golden hair, and with his -dagger cut it quickly. When he had twisted it around his sword hilt he -leaned over and kissed her cheek, but though the Lady slept the blood -seemed to leap to the spot he had touched, and her cheek grew scarlet, -as he turned away ashamed and fled from the palace. - -"Near to the garden he mounted his horse, and spurred swiftly away -through the night, while the trees moaned in the wind as he passed, -and the birds awoke and sang, 'Shame! shame!' till he stopped his ears -and fled faster and faster. - -"Thus it was that Prince Clever kissed the Lady and had a golden lock -to show which was like her own, because it was her own. The next day he -met Sturdy. - -"'Ha! ha!' said Clever, 'you own a Roc's egg, but I have kissed the -Lady, and who do you think has hair like this?' - -"'Only one,' replied Prince Sturdy sadly. - -"'We shall meet to-morrow,' said Clever, for so they had agreed, and -thus saying he rode away. - -"Prince Sturdy also arose and entered a wood near by, for he was sick -at heart and desired to see no man's face. - -"In a little while he was aware of two wild roses beside a rock on -which he had seated himself. As he thought of the Lady he wept, and -just one tear fell upon a rose. - -"Then said a faint clear voice, 'The dew falls.' - -"'I hope it is rain,' said another voice which was still more sweet and -pure. - -"'Ah,' sighed the Prince, 'happy roses!' - -"'Why do you weep?' said the roses, for it was their voices he had -heard. - -"'Because I may not steal a lady's kiss,' said the Prince, 'and -because I want a tress of golden hair the like of which is not to be -had on earth.' - -"'We don't know much about kisses,' said the rose. 'But it is pleasant -to touch a young rose bud when the winds blow us against one another. I -suppose that is a kiss.' - -"'Yes,' said Sturdy laughing, as he pushed the two roses together till -their red lips touched. - -"'Thanks,' said they. Then after a silence one of them said, 'If I were -you I would go and lie on the top of a great cliff, and as the yellow -sunlight trickles over the stones at morning, I would catch a bit in a -gold box and shut the lid quickly and keep it. Where is a Lady would -have golden locks like that, so yellow and so fine?' - -"'It is well,' cried the Prince, and so saying he went away, sadly -thinking of the kiss he might not have. - -"Next day the Court and the King and the Princess were in the garden -awaiting the two Princes. - -"First came Prince Clever who had gotten his good looks again, and who -came gaily with a hundred knights and with slaves who bore an ivory box -which held the Princess' hair. - -"Next came Prince Sturdy on a great black steed, but all alone and with -only a little gold box in his hand. - -"When both had bent before the lady she smiled and said, 'You are empty -handed.' - -"'No,' said Clever, and bade the slaves approach. Then from the ivory -box he took a glorious tress of the Lady's hair. - -"'Is it like?' said he. 'Ah!' she cried, as she matched it with her own -long hair. 'It is the same! It was mine! How came you by this?' - -"'Pardon me, Lady,' he said. 'It was I who in your sleep yesterday -stole this tress of hair. Where else is any like it?' - -"'Ah!' she cried, growing pale, 'You were the Sorcerer with the foul -visage. You must have worn your heart upon your face for once Fair Sir. -But ah me!' she continued, 'the kiss! the kiss! Did you dare to kiss -me, sir Prince?' - -"'I dared,' he said. 'How else could I win you?' - -"'Enough,' she said, and turned, pale and despairing, to Prince Sturdy. - -"'Lady,' said he, 'at morning I climbed the hill and caught in this box -a tress of golden sunlight. If it be not as like to thy hair as sun -to sun I am a false knight.' Then he opened the box beside the Lady's -wealth of hair. - -"'Bosh!' cried Prince Clever. 'There is nothing there,' for the box of -a truth was empty. - -"'True,' said Sturdy, 'It was bright this morning, but it is darkness -now beside the sunshine of my Lady's locks.' - -"'Well said!' cried the King, while the Princess blushed like a whole -summer of rosy peaches. - -"'By my beard!' cried Clever, 'He has the egg, and it seems I am -outwitted about the lock of hair. I pray you to tell me which of us has -the kiss.' - -"'A gift is better than a theft,' said she, and whispering this, bent -down and kissed the brow of brave Prince Sturdy who trembled like a -lily of earth in the wind of Paradise. - -"But as for Prince Clever, he made a wry face and said, 'It is very -warm in this place,' and so went away with his hands in his pockets and -was no more seen among men." - - * * * * * - -When Fuz-buz had ended, all the little family of spiders began to -rejoice together, because of the nice story they had heard and also -because of the many more which were yet to be told. - -The next afternoon as soon as ever Mrs. Grabem began to knit, the -spiders cried aloud for a story. - -"But I am tired," said Fuz-buz. - -"No matter!" cried the spiders, "we are not." - -"Come, no nonsense!" roared Mrs. Grabem. - -"Well," cried poor Fuz-buz. "Let me think a little." - -"I should not suppose it took much thinking to make up stories," -replied Mrs. Grabem. - -By this time Fuz-buz was ready and having eaten a little cherry gum to -clear his throat, he began as follows: - -"This is a fairy tale about - - -COLD COUNTRY. - -ABOUT TROWEL KU THE BEAVER WHO BUILDS DAMS. ABOUT KANECRI THE LOON WHO -SINGS ON THE LAKES. ABOUT HOOTA THE OWL WHO IS NOT SO WISE AS HE LOOKS. -ABOUT WEESKA THE FOX WHO IS JUST AS SHARP AS HIS OWN NOSE, AND THAT IS -SAYING A GREAT DEAL. - -"Ever so many days ago," said Fuz-buz, "and ever so far away up among -the great lakes it was always summer. There the trees were always green -and the flowers never ceased to bloom nor the birds to sing. - -"The beaver built dams and no winter came to freeze them. The owl -hooted solemnly and the squirrels raced and played and ate nuts all the -year, and the foxes joked with the big bears, and the loons sang to the -stars all the nights long, and the stars winked at the lakes, and no -one ate any one else, for every one was merry and happy, because it was -summer all the year. - -"But at last everything and everybody grew tired of being so happy. - -"'Ah me!' said the bear, 'I get so fat it would be as easy to roll as -to walk.' - -"'Just so,' sighed the trees, 'what a bore to have to make leaves all -the time.' - -"Only the owl said, 'I'm comfortable,' and gave his feathers a lazy -shake and went to sleep again. - -"After a while all the animals and trees and fish had a great talk and -made up their minds that it was unpleasant to have hot weather always. - -"So the fox proposed that they should go in search of cool weather, and -bring back a little by way of a change. - -"At last they agreed to send Trowel Ku the Beaver, and Kanecri the -Loon, and Hoota the Owl, and Weeska the Fox. - -[Illustration.] - -"All were ready except Hoota the Owl, who said, 'I'm comfortable. -What's the use?' and fell asleep again, but Weeska bit his toes and -Kanecri the Loon sang in his ears and at last they woke him up. 'For,' -said the Beaver, 'he looks so wise we cannot do without him.' - -"Therefore it was resolved that Trowel Ku the Beaver should pull out -one of his feathers every five minutes to keep him wide awake, and -having thus planned the matter each one filled a birch bark bag with -food, and the whole party set off at daybreak. - -"After a long journey they came to the hut of a magician called a -Manitou, on a high hill. Here the Loon called aloud, but no one came -until the Owl mounted on the Fox's back and knocked at the door, when -a little hunch-backed woman opened it and said, 'You can't come in -without money.' - -"'Ha! ha!' said the Fox and ran away into the wood, and presently came -back with a handful of green leaves which he gave to the old woman. - -"'That will do,' said she, for she was blind. 'Money must be plenty -where you live. Come in.' By and by the Manitou came home. - -"'What now?' said he. - -"'Sir,' answered Trowel Ku, the Beaver, 'I am tired of summer and of -building dams. Tell us where we can buy a little cold to take home for -a change.' 'And I,' said the Fox, 'I find it always too hot.' 'For my -part,' cried the Loon, Kanecri, 'You have given us only summer. Either -give me fewer feathers or else a little cold. As for the trees they are -all growling about having no rest at making leaves.' - -"'Then,' said Manitou to the Owl, 'What do you want?' 'I'm -comfortable,' said Hoota the Owl, and straightway went to sleep. - -"'Well,' said Manitou, 'I will send you to the cold country and you can -all of you take home a bag of cold to your friends.' Then he began to -laugh, and taking a deer-skin bade them all jump inside. - -"When they were all in he sewed them up and putting the skin outside of -the hut bade it go. - -"At once it became alive and bounded off over the hills and through the -streams until it came to a great frozen lake. - -"Here the Beaver heard a noise, and presently an arrow went through the -deer which fell on the ice. The next moment a knife ripped the deer -open, and the Owl and the Beaver and Fox and Loon jumped out. - -"Then they saw two tall men made of icicles who gave a cry when they -saw them, dropped their knives, and skated away over the lake. - -"'Dear me!' said Trowel Ku, 'This must be cold land, let us fill our -bags,' cried Weeska the Fox, 'and be off.' 'Here is too much cold for -me, I'm not comfortable,' said Hoota the owl. 'Boo hoo how it bites my -toes!' - -"Then they all filled their birch bags with cold, of which there was -plenty for every one lying about loose, and set off homewards. - -"But after a little while they all became so cold that their jaws -chattered. By and by they saw the Manitou. - -"'What now?' said he. - -"'Too much cold,' said the Beaver. 'I think one bag would answer,' -added the Fox, 'and we could carry it by turns.' 'I'm not comfortable,' -groaned Hoota the Owl, 'my toes are frozen.' 'Suppose,' said the Loon, -'you were to help us to carry the cold home.' - -"'Ho!' answered Manitou, for he was very angry. 'Begone! you wanted -summer and I gave it to you, and you had leave to take as much cold as -you wanted, and were greedy and took too much. I will warm you a little -and send your cold home too.' - -"Thus saying he tore the sunset out of the west and threw it a thousand -miles into their country, and lo! it fell on the trees, and some it -stained yellow and some red and some brown, which so amazed them that -they let their leaves fall in affright and horror. - -"Next the Manitou took up the bags of cold and threw them after the -sunset, and as they flew they broke, and the white cold fell in little -fleecy blankets on the naked trees and on the land. - -"When the animals reached home there was no summer. So the Fox Weeska -ran into his den in the rocks, and the Beaver Trowel Ku cried, 'Woe is -me! the water has become white stone,' and the Loon Kanecri sang a song -to the stars and flew up into the skies and sailed away and away. But -Hoota the Owl said, 'I'm comfortable,' and fell fast asleep in a hollow -stump." - - * * * * * - -The next night Mrs. Grabem herself came along with her little ones to -hear Fuz-buz relate a tale. - -"Be sure it is a nice story," said one of the spiders. - -"For my part," cried Mrs. Grabem, "I take no interest in stories, but -it pleases me to see the youngsters amused. You may go on while I knit, -and as I have ten threads to mend let the story be a long one." - -"Please ma'am," answered Fuz-buz, "I will now tell you a story which I -flatter myself is the very best one I ever heard. It was brought by a -cousin of mine from Bagdad where he got it from a very aristocratic fly -who lived many years in the household of Sinbad the Sailor." - - -THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH. - -"Once upon a time there lived in Persia a great king. He had one nephew -who was to be the ruler after him, and to have all his kingdom. - -"When this lad was about six years old a daughter was born to the King. -No sooner was her birth known than the magicians foretold that she -would be beautiful, and would have blue eyes like lakes, which last was -not very hard to foretell because they were already blue, but the magi -also declared that on the day of her marriage the King would die. - -"'Oh ho!' said the King, who was called Omar, 'If this be so she shall -never marry, and I shall live long and pleasantly, and after me she -shall be queen. As for my nephew, I fear that he may wish to be king -when he grows to manhood. Therefore let him be thrown into the sea.' -Then an old Magician arose and spoke thus. - -"'Be careful, oh King, not to do this wicked act, or if you greatly -dread the Prince Ali give him to me, and I will carry him far away to -an island on the coast, where he may be taught as a Prince should be, -and where he may live all his days and never know what he might have -been.' - -"Then said a second counsellor, 'For my part I advise that the Princess -be shut up in a palace around whose gardens a wall shall be built, that -she may grow up and see none but women, for so only can you make sure -that she will not fall in love and marry.' - -"'It were well,' said the King. 'Let the Magician take the Prince as -he has said.' Accordingly the next day Prince Ali was carried to an -island many miles from the main land and lodged in a fair palace. Here -he was cared for by trusty persons who taught him all manner of wisdom, -as well as to ride and hunt and swim, so that he grew up brave and -handsome and full of goodness and knowledge. - -"Meanwhile the Princess lived alone with her women in a gleaming marble -castle which looked across the sea, and was girt about by a high wall -on every side but that bounded by the waters of the ocean. - -"The busy years went on and by and by the little girl grew to be a -stately woman, and the Prince a tall and vigourous man, while the King -Omar became gray and old, and was every day more greedy to live. Each -morning he sent a slave to see how the Princess fared, and every month -he was told all about Prince Ali, and so made sure of his constant safe -keeping. - -"One fine morning just after a storm a strange thing happened to the -Prince. He was walking up and down the beach and looking at the waves -which were rushing up the shore and sweeping down again with a fierce -roar, when he heard a cry of distress among the rocks near by. In a -moment he climbed towards the spot and saw to his great wonder as he -came near long tresses of something like thin seaweed floating in the -wind from a rock above him. He seized it and was more amazed to find -that it was beautiful hair like his own, but of a bright green colour. -As he pulled it he heard again a cry of pain which hastened his steps. - -"This hair was wonderful, for it not only fell far down the cliff but -lay on top of the rocks and across bushes, and was strung here and -there with coral and great pearls. - -"When the nimble Prince had traced it some thirty feet it led him to a -deep hollow between two rocks. Into this he descended. As he reached -the bottom what should he see but a little old woman, with fins for -hands and a long scaly tail like that of a fish. She was such a comical -little old lady that the Prince sat down and laughed for five minutes. -He ceased his mirth, however, when the old creature waved her fins in a -helpless way and groaned aloud. - -[Illustration.] - -"'What can I do for you Mrs. Woman-fish?' said he, 'and how came you -here?' - -"'My dear,' said she, 'I am, as you see, a mermaid. I happened to come -on shore last night just to do a little knitting by the light of the -moon, when up came a big storm, and the waves gave me a great toss over -these rocks and into this hole. But the worst of it is I have lost my -spectacles, and my poor back is nearly broken, and one fin's out of -joint, and I've lost a knitting-needle and my back comb. Now if you -would kindly carry me to the edge of the rocks and throw me in, I think -I could reach home, but, as you may notice, I don't get along very well -upon land.' - -"The Prince was too good-natured to refuse, so he lifted her carefully, -and drawing her long hair after him climbed with his queer load to the -top of the cliff. Here he gave her a mighty cast, and away she went -fifty feet down into the sea with her green hair sailing after her. The -moment she felt the water she rolled over and kissing her fin to Prince -Ali sculled away as cleverly as could be. - -"The Prince said nothing about this adventure, but felt sorry that he -had not asked her some questions, for you must know that whenever he -asked questions of the people who waited on him, and taught him, they -were very apt to say, 'Oh don't bother me! I'm busy,' so that there -were many things which he desired to learn and could not. - -"From this day forward he spent all of his time upon the shore and -among the rocks. At last one evening he saw a large white crested wave -rolling in, and on a sudden out of it paddled the mermaid. She sculled -up the sand and rolling over on her back said to the Prince, 'My dear -I can never thank you enough. If the doctors had been quicker about -getting my flapper well I should have been here long ago.' - -"'You are most welcome,' returned Ali, 'and the more so because perhaps -you can tell me who I am.' - -"'Sir!' said she, 'You are a King's son. Your parents are dead, and -your uncle has put you here for fear that you may wish to take the -kingdom away from his daughter the Princess Jessalie who is the most -beautiful woman in the world. She also is a prisoner within the gardens -of her Palace because it has been foretold that whenever she marries, -her Father the King will die.' - -"'Would that I could see her!' said the Prince. - -"'Sir!' replied the mermaid, 'to-morrow I will bring you her picture, -and meanwhile here are some trifles which my children have sent you as -tokens of their gratitude.' - -"Thus saying she shook her head and a double handful of pearls fell -from her hair and dropped at the feet of the Prince, after which the -mermaid tumbled into the water and swam deftly away. - -"The next morning early Ali went to the beach and found the mermaid -waiting with a large piece of crystal in her flappers. - -"'Prince,' she said, 'Yesterday the Princess Jessalie chanced to look -into a small pool of water on the shore where she walks. As quick as -could be I enchanted the pool and turned it into a crystal mirror, so -that the face of the Princess is fixed upon it forever. Look, I have -brought it away with me.' - -"At once the Prince regarded the mirror, and this was what he saw in -it. Calm lazy eyes of blue, and below them cheeks dimpled and rosy, -and twin lips which made you jealous of each, because ever they kissed -one the other, and brown hair which must have fallen down about this -face as it looked into the pool of water, and blue around it all, the -heavens which spread above her as she had bent to gaze at her own -fairness. - -"'Ah!' said Ali, 'This is my fate! Take me to this woman swiftly that I -may see her and die contented.' - -"'Not so,' said the mermaid, 'be guided by me and in time you shall -marry her. Give me a message and I will carry it to the Princess, -but as yet she must not know your name, or it might be that the King -hearing it would put you to death. Speak your message to this shell and -I will answer for the rest.' - -"Thus saying she pointed to a white shell which lay on the beach. The -Prince took it up, and laughing, whispered a few words in its curled -lip, and then as the mermaid bade him threw it far out into the sea. - -"'Now,' said the mermaid, 'If you tell a lady once that you love her -she laughs. If you tell her twice she is angry, but when you have ten -times said 'I love,' she will either hate or love you, or perhaps -may hate and love by turns, each for five minutes as sometimes doth -chance. Now, therefore, many times you must say to her I love you.' - -"'But _how_ shall I do this?' asked Prince Ali. - -"'Sir,' she said, 'look upwards and clap your hands thrice.' - -"Without further words the young man did as he was told, when instantly -a great white swan descended from a vast height and alighted on the -water's edge beside them. The mermaid at once began to dig in the sand, -and presently found a large oyster shell which she desired Ali to -open. As he did so a necklace of pearls fell out, the like of which no -jeweller ever saw before or since. - -"'Now!' said the mermaid, 'hang this on the swan's neck for a present -to the Princess, and with thy finger write on the bird's breast a -message.' - -"The Prince was lost in wonder, but without hesitation he traced a -few rapid letters on the white breast of the swan. As he wrote, the -feathers where he touched them grew scarlet, so that you might read in -red letters 'I love thee,' marked on the snowy whiteness of the swan's -bosom. - -"Scarcely had he made an end of this short letter of love when the swan -rose in swift flight until she was no longer to be seen by the amazed -Prince, who turned to look at the mermaid, though only to find that -she too had vanished. Then in still greater wonder Ali walked homeward -along the water's edge. - -"Thus many days went by and brought no change, for ever the west winds -blew, and ever the waves climbed the shore and laid soft cheeks on the -sands and whispered, and went backward moaning again. - -"This sadness pleased the Prince who lay on the rocks all day and heard -the sobbing waters, and looked wearily over the wide green ocean fields -where the bubble-crested foam came and went from sight like the white -clover blossoms which swayed amid their fields of green, when the wind -leaped across the rocks and took its pleasure inland. - -"One of these days the Princess walked on the shore with her women, -when the youngest of them said, 'What a lovely shell!' 'Let me hear -what it says,' cried the Princess; but no sooner had she put it to her -ear than the shell murmured softly, 'I LOVE YOU.' - -"'Ah!' said the Princess Jessalie to the oldest of her ladies, 'This -shell sings to me words new and strange. Tell me I pray you what is -LOVE?' - -"She had scarcely finished when all the old ladies held up their hands -in horror, for this and all other such words were forbidden within the -Palace bounds. The more they made faces and signs at her the more the -Princess wished to know. So she kept saying continually, 'What is love? -I will know what is love.' - -"But no one answered, and some of the old ladies cried, and some ran -away, for they all feared that King Omar would strangle them because -the Princess had heard the forbidden word, and because no one of them -knew but that presently she would say, 'what is a man?' or some other -such dreadful words. - -"When at length the Princess found herself alone with her governess, -she said again, 'What is love?' - -"'My dear child,' replied the old lady, 'it is a kind of medicine!' - -"'Ah!' cried the Princess, 'Then I see why the ladies made faces when -I spoke of it. I suppose they had all taken a dose. But it sounds very -pleasant,' she added, and all day long she went about with the shell at -her ear. - -"The next morning the shell was gone, for the ladies had taken it away -so that they might prevent further mischief by hiding this wonderful -shell. But before they concealed it they listened to hear it say 'I -love you.' No one listened twice, and they all said the shell was an -ill-bred shell and had no manners, though what it said to them I know -not, perhaps something true but not pleasant. - -"The next day while walking in the garden the Princess asked eagerly -about her singing shell. While everybody pretended to look for it a -whirring noise was heard and a fluttering of white wings was seen as -the swan lit at the feet of the lady and shook the pearl necklace into -her lap. - -"'Oh marvellous!' cried the Princess, 'come quickly look at this! see -what pearls! and Mahomet preserve us! Bismillah! Here is the name of -that medicine again, written in scarlet on the breast of this beautiful -swan, 'I LOVE THEE.' - -"No sooner had the old ladies seen these fatal words than they rushed -at the bird and beat it so cruelly that it had hard work to get away -even with the help of the Princess herself. - -"This time she was so urgent to be told more, and so eager in her -questions, that the matter came to the quick ears of the King Omar her -father. At once the guards around her Palace gardens were doubled. -Twelve old ladies were set to work to gather up all the shells along -shore, while twelve more were ordered to keep strict watch lest any -other messages of love should come to the fair Jessalie. - -"Meantime none knew whence came these strange words, and the King grew -more and more angry and alarmed whenever he thought about it. - -"All his precautions were in vain. One fine morning every rose-leaf in -the gardens had written upon it in golden Arabic letters, 'I LOVE YOU.' - -"This drove the King wild, and he commanded all the rose-bushes in the -kingdom to be cut down, which was instantly done. - -"The next morrow at day-break a great noise was heard, and when the -Princess arose and peeped from her window every bird in the garden was -singing, 'I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.' - -"This time the King ordered the Princess to be shut up in the Palace. -Then the birds were driven away and a great silken net hung over the -garden so that the voice of the birds might no more be heard singing -this sweet treason among the flowers. - -"Very soon, however, the Princess became so weary of her Palace that -she fell ill, and no one dared to tell the King that all night long in -dreams she whispered, 'I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU.' - -"Far and near the King sought counsel of all manner of wise men and -doctors, but no one would venture to order medicine for the Princess -without seeing her, and as to a man doing that, it was out of the -question. - -"About this time the mermaid, who I need not say was the merrymaker of -all this mischief, met the Prince on the beach one evening and thus -addressed him. - -"'The Princess whom you love is ill, because she has not found out who -it is that is ever saying through the shells and the birds and the -flowers, "I love you." Take therefore this mirror, write on it a letter -with your finger tip, and I will see that it reaches the Princess.' - -"The Prince gladly followed these directions, for though when he had -traced words on the glass he could see nothing of them, he felt sure -of the mermaid's power to help him. - -"When he had ended she took the mirror, and carrying it all the way -above the waves hastened to the main-land. When she came to the shore -she put on a long petticoat to hide her scaly fish tail, and drawing -her fins through the sleeves of a gown, mounted up on a pair of -crutches and hobbled with great labour to the Palace of King Omar. Here -she told the guard to let the King know that a lame doctoress who had -come from a far country was waiting to cure the Princess. - -"So soon as ever the King heard this he ordered her to be admitted. -When he set eyes upon her odd figure he cried out, - -"'Quick! old woman speak! and that shortly! If you can cure my daughter -say so.' - -"'Oh King!' she answered, 'Let the lady look into this mirror, but see -that no one touches it on the way. Let the Princess breathe upon it as -she looks, and if it does not cure her throw me into the sea without -mercy.' - -"'Well said!' cried the King. 'It shall be as you desire. Let the -mirror be carried to the Princess.' - -"Accordingly that evening the crystal was taken to the Palace with -every care and given to Jessalie. - -"'You have but to breathe on it,' said her Governess, 'and you will be -well.' - -"'Give it to me,' she said, and instantly blew a breath upon its -polished surface. As she did so, to her great amazement she read these -words which seemed to come into view on the glass as her breathing -moistened it, 'I LOVE YOU. I, THE PRINCE ALI YOUR COUSIN, I LOVE YOU.' - -"As her breath faded from the glass the words fled from sight, but the -Princess fell back murmuring, 'My cousin Ali, he loves me.' - -"Then there was confusion. The ladies tore their hair and screamed -aloud, and the slaves beat their breasts, while the Princess fainted -away. In a moment the news came to the King that his daughter had no -sooner seen the mirror than she had called aloud the name of her cousin -and fainted. - -"'Allah!' muttered the King, 'Well said the poet, "A daughter is an -aching tooth, and he who doth not beat his child shall one day strike -his knees in vain." Let this old hag of a doctor be cast into the sea,' -he added, 'and let the captain of the guard take ship speedily and slay -this nephew of mine whom I did ill to spare so long.' - -"Accordingly the mermaid was taken to the rocks and thrown a hundred -feet down into the waves, where she laughed a little, and kicking off -her petticoats swam away merrily to see the Prince, for whose safety -she had great fears. - -"Just as she reached the island she saw the Prince standing on a rock -and bravely defending himself against the guard of the King. - -"As quick as could be the mermaid called to him to leap off of the -rocks into the sea, for although he had killed at least a dozen of his -foes he was faint and sorely pressed. When he heard her call he smote -the captain of the guard a fierce blow, and bounding up the rocks -hesitated an instant, and then leaped boldly into the foaming waters at -their feet. - -"For a moment he felt his strength fail, then he saw a thousand colours -before his eyes, then a gray mist came over them, and after that -darkness, until he awakened as from a dream of death. - -"When he became conscious, he was under the water seated at the foot of -a vast tree of coral. About him was a forest of like trees, hung with -huge pearls and covered with sea-weed of many tints, among which great -fish and nameless ocean beasts floated lazily to and fro. - -"'Come,' said the mermaid, 'You are now a son of the sea. Let us go.' - -"Upon this he arose and in a great maze of wonder walked along, while -the mermaid swam easily by his side. Sometimes they passed huge heaps -of amber, and sometimes turned aside from the wrecks of mighty ships, -or else trode through caverns whose sand was gold dust and gleaming -jewels, till at length they came to a vast wall of rock. - -"Here the mermaid knocked and a door opened and let them into a mighty -hall builded throughout of the purest jasper. - -"But what the Prince saw here no one will ever know, for here the -mermen and mermaids lived, and here they made the Prince so welcome -that he would never have wished for earth again if the Princess whom he -loved had only been with him. - -"Meanwhile King Omar felt himself growing old and feeble, but the -nearer he came to death the more he desired to live. Then there came -into his head a cunning way to cheat the Angel of Death. He therefore -summoned his counsel and spake to them thus, - -"'It has been foretold that I shall die when my daughter marries. Now -let proclamation be made that whosoever shall bring to me a cup of -water from the fountain of youth shall have the Princess for his wife. -So shall I drink of the water and become young again, and that which -was to kill me shall bring me life.' - -"Then there was silence awhile till at last an aged Mufti arose. - -"'Oh King!' said he, 'Beware how you resist the words of fate. Is it -so easy to live rightly that you would crave for more of life? He who -lengthens the life of this world makes shorter the life of the world to -come. Beware!' - -"'Fool!' said the King, 'thou art ten years younger than I. Let it be -as I have said.' - -"Soon after this the mermaid said to Ali, 'It is time Prince that you -left us. The King desires a cup of the fountain of youth, and to him -who brings it he will give the Princess. Therefore have no fear, but -take thy sword and this crystal flask, and passing through yonder -gateway journey on until you reach a deep valley, at the bottom of -which you will find the fountain. Drink none, but fill your flask and -hasten to the King without pause or fear.' - -"With this counsel the Prince took his sword, and tying the flask about -his neck set out. As he stepped through the gate-way of amber he looked -up and saw above him the splendid blue of the deep sea like one vast -quiet sapphire. Before him a gradual slope led downwards over rocks -and sea grasses which at last ceased, and he came upon a floor of sand -whiter than the purest snow. - -"As the descent ended he saw in front of him a majestic angel of vast -height. Her foot rested on a marble skull of huge proportions, and upon -her brow was written _Azrael_. - -[Illustration.] - -"For a moment the Prince paused in dread; then he took courage and said -humbly, - -"'Is this the fountain of youth?' As he ceased the angel murmured, -'_Out of death cometh all life_,' and solemnly struck the skull with -her wand. Instantly a purple liquid gushed from under the skull and -floated in slow spirals upward through the still water. - -"With a bound the Prince knelt at the skull, filled his flask and -turned away in haste, for already the purple color was tinting the -whole sea about him, and he remembered well the mermaid's warning. - -"Three days after this Ali reached the court of King Omar. To his great -joy he found the court sitting, and the King on his throne. - -"So splendid was Prince Ali's dress and so noble his air that no one -stopped him, and he entered freely and unquestioned. Before him sat the -King his uncle. He was very old, but still vigourous enough to live for -many years beyond the common span of human life. - -"Ali listened while the Muftis read aloud the promise of the King that -whosoever brought the cup of water from the fountain of youth should -marry the Princess Jessalie. - -"No sooner had they ended than Ali bowed before the throne. - -"'Oh King!' said he, 'I am the Prince Ali, thy nephew, whom you would -have slain. I have brought to you here a cup of the water of the -fountain of youth, Drink, but read first what words have come on the -flask since I filled it at the fountain. Drink then if you will, and -give me the Princess, for by my sword this is water of the fountain of -youth and none other.' - -"'Ha!' said the King, 'Give it to me!' and tottering he arose and -descending a few steps seized the flask. Then he tore from it the -silver cover with which the Prince had sealed it. - -"At once a dense purple vapour rose in clouds from the lip of the flask -and curled upwards through the hall. Whosoever breathed of this his -eyes flashed and he dreamed of mornings long ago, and of fair women and -of boyhood, so that all who felt it stood bewildered. - -"Then cried the King, 'I drink to youth!' and would have drained the -flask, but Ali held his hand and bade him read the words which were -graven upon the vessel. - -'"It is but a moment to wait for youth,' cried the King, and turning to -a magician bade him read the words, 'For,' said he, 'I am old and my -sight fails me.' - -"'Oh my master!' said the magician, 'these are the words: - - "'He who steals to-morrows - Shall drink the wine of sorrows.'" - -"Then the aged counsellor fell back with an altered face as he breathed -the purple fumes, 'Woe is me! I am stronger! I am grown younger! Woe is -me! I am further from Allah.' - -"But the King, saying no word, set the flask to his lips and drained -it to the utmost drop. Then with a cry of delight he threw the vessel -away, and shouting aloud, 'I am young again!' bounded up the steps and -pausing faced the mutely wondering crowd. - -"When he turned he was seen as a man in the lusty vigour of life, -stalwart and strong of limb. - -"'Ho!' he said, 'my guard!' but none stirred, for his face was still -changing, and now his beard was gone, and it was a lad who sat upon the -throne, and a lad's voice which cried aloud. - -"'This man to the dungeons! What ho! my guard!' And yet they moved not, -for the lad was now a child. - -"Still the stern will worked, and the child-King said faintly, 'My -guards! my guards!' till his voice broke into baby lispings, and now it -was an infant who sat upon the throne. - -"Then the changes seemed to cease, and the ancient counsellor who had -so wisely warned the King cried aloud, 'Allah il Allah! great and -wonderful are thy ways!' - -"When one man had thus broken silence a mighty tumult arose, amidst -which the baby King looked right and left with blue eyes of wonder. - -"But Ali drew his sword and in a terrible voice ordered the guard to -clear the hall. Instantly he was obeyed, and then there was great -counsel held as to what should be done with the King. At length it was -decided that he should be sent to the island where Ali had lived, and -be kept there all his days. These indeed proved few, for it is recorded -in the chronicles of the kingdom that he took teething rather hard, -and died in his second summer of malignant whooping-cough. - -"As to Prince Ali he married his cousin the Princess Jessalie, and the -mermen and the mermaids came to the wedding and brought with them for -presents pearls and amber and tortoise shells such as folks never see -now-a-days. - -"They lived long together, and loved one another well, and they both -died at one and the same moment, which was the happiest thing of all -their happy lives." - - * * * * * - -The sun was not yet down on the next evening when the young spiders -began to collect around Fuz-buz. - -"Tell us," said one of them, "a story about giants." - -"There's a jolly idea," cried another. "Is it to be a spider giant?" - -"Ahem!" replied Fuz-buz. "I wish there were such giants, and I wish one -of them would come along this very moment and gobble you all up." - -This he said in so fierce a voice that the young spiders ran away -squealing so loud that if you had been a spider and had owned an -ear-trumpet, you might have heard them at least three inches off. - -As for Mrs. Grabem she hurried in a rage to Fuz-Buz, and gave him a -shake, saying, "Have a care old rascal, how you scare my young ones. -Tell them a story at once, or you shall never tell another on this -earth." - -"Yes, madam," answered Fuz-buz very meekly, and as soon as ever he -could get his breath he began as follows, to tell them the story of -Krusstikuss and Growlegrum. - - -KRUSSTIKUSS AND GROWLEGRUM. - -"There have been many giants I believe, but there never were any others -like the great giant Growlegrum and his twin brother Krusstikuss. - -"These two giants were both of them Ogres. Their mother was an Afrite, -and their grandfather a Ghoul. On which account they were probably the -most unpleasant giants that anybody ever came across. - -"When very young they were tall and stout, but one day unluckily for -Krusstikuss, his grandmother, who was a fat giantess, sat down on him. - -"Not feeling anything in particular she fell asleep and did not awaken -for three months. - -"Of course it was hard for Krusstikuss to grow while his grandmother -sat upon him, so he began to spread out sideways and never afterwards -got out of the habit. He therefore became as fat as a bun, while his -brother Growlegrum grew as tall as the highest tree. - -"So one was tall, and one stout, but both were of the same size in -wickedness, and as to Krusstikuss he liked to eat babies, while -Growlegrum was fond of young ladies, although their hoops sometimes -disagreed with him. - -"When these monsters grew up they ate so many people that their father -told them they would cause a famine, and must go away and find another -land where people were more plenty. - -"At last they took his advice and started out together to seek a new -home. After eating a great many folks they came to a beautiful country -where lived a King who had a daughter as good as she was pretty. - -"When the two giants reached the borders of this land they sat down and -began to talk. - -"'I am getting so big,' said Krusstikuss, 'that I find it a labour to -walk about and look for babies. They must be very scarce.' - -"'Not more so than young ladies,' cried Growlegrum. 'I should think -they would like to be eaten before they grow to be old and ugly, but -really it does not seem so.' - -"While they were thus lamenting the scarcity of food, an old woman with -a red cap and a green kirtle came from the wood and stood before them. - -"'Sirs,' said she, 'I am a cousin of yours, and also a witch. Why -should you be troubled about your meals? Order the King Hassan to send -hither twice every day ten fat babies and one young lady.' - -"'Good,' said the giants, 'we can lie on these hills and eat and sleep -without labour. So let it be. Go you to King Hassan and tell him to -send us the babies and the young ladies without fail, or else we will -eat him and fry him first.' - -"This made the old witch chuckle, and she went away quickly towards -the city with her wicked news. Presently she entered the Palace, for -she was a cousin of the King, and went straight to the garden where -she told King Hassan that the two giants were on the borders of his -country, and must have ten babies and a young lady twice a day or else -they would eat the King and fry him first, which made Hassan feel hot -all over. - -"He soon saw that he could do nothing against such vast monsters, and -therefore beat his breast and ordered his captains to take to the -giants the babies and the young ladies. - -"You may be sure that when this happened twice a day for a week folks -began to be very much troubled. By and by the mammas hid away the -babies in tree-tops and chimnies and in all sorts of out of the way -places. And as to young ladies there were none to be found, for every -one of them put on her brother's pantaloons, and it was hard work to -catch a woman at all. - -"It chanced about this time that the Princess was walking in a wood -near the Palace when she saw a young girl crying. Now as the Princess -was very kind-hearted she stopped at once and said, - -"'Why do you cry? What ails you?' - -"'Oh dear!' said the other, 'to-morrow I am to be taken by the guard -to be eaten by the Ogres, Growlegrum and Krusstikuss, and when I am -gone who will comfort my old mother, for she has no child but me?' - -"When the Princess heard this she told her to wait a little, and went -herself to find the King. - -"'Father,' said she, 'it is hard that all the young girls should be -eaten alive by these false giants. Why do not you raise an army and go -and fight and kill them? It is base to give up to them in this way. -Were I a man I would slay them myself.' - -"'It would be in vain to try,' answered the King. 'Well,' said the -Princess, 'to-morrow I shall go alone in place of the maiden who is -chosen, and perhaps some good knight will not willingly let me die so -mean a death.' - -"The King was very angry, but the Princess was obstinate. Then a young -Prince who was present arose and said, - -"'I have come, lady, a thousand miles to help you. My name is Prince -Bluets, and I am the great-grandson of John, who is sometimes called -Jack, the Giant Killer. Go to the giants as you have said and all will -yet be well.' - -"Then the Princess looked and saw that the Prince had brave eyes and -was fair of face, so she replied, - -"'It shall be as you say.' - -"'To-morrow, then,' continued the Prince, 'you shall go to the giants -and I will follow you. But first take this amulet and hang it around -your neck. So long as you wear it all things living and dead will love -you, and no giant will wish to eat you.' - -"Thus saying he hung around her neck a gold chain, and at once she went -away and ordered her horse to ride to the giants. Meanwhile it was -proclaimed that out of love for her people the Princess was going to -beg the giants to go away and not to eat any more babies. - -"As for the Princess, she sent word to the little maiden in the wood -that she was going in her place, and then bravely mounted her horse and -rode through the town to the gate. - -"No sooner did the people see her than they began to follow her, -because the amulet made every one wish to be near to her. But at the -gate she bade them return, and rode away alone into the wood, though -even there the charm still worked, and all things loved her more and -more. The sun stared her in the eyes like a gallant over-bold, and the -wind played with her chestnut hair and was happy, and the leaves bent -down and kissed her, and all the mice and the birds and the bears and -the foxes came out and followed her. - -"But when she came near to the two Ogres and saw them sitting on a hill -with their white eyes and rough faces and great black teeth like marble -tombstones, all the animals set up a dismal howl and ran away. Yet -still the lady rode along, and presently the two giants became aware of -her presence. - -"Then said Growlegrum, 'Here comes dinner,' but when she drew nearer he -added, 'She's too pretty to eat. Who are you my dear?' - -"'I am the Princess Violet,' said she, 'the King's daughter.' - -"'Hah!' said both of the Ogres, 'You shall be my wife.' - -"'Well,' cried she, 'I cannot have two husbands; put me in a safe place -and after I have known you both for a month I can decide which I will -have for my husband.' - -"'Good,' returned Krusstikuss, 'So let it be.' Then they lifted her -gently and put her near by in a castle whose owner they had devoured, -and every day they brought her goodies to eat, enough for twenty -dinners. - -"In the morning came Growlegrum and looked over the castle wall and -said, 'I love you my dear.' But in the afternoons came Krusstikuss and -said, 'Bless me! how I love you!' Now the Princess knew that within a -month she should hear of Prince Bluets. - -"As for that Prince he went away to a magician and asked him how he -could become thin. - -"'There are four ways,' answered the magician, - - 'Eat nothing, - 'Fall in love, - 'Become jealous, and - 'Think ever so much.' - -"Then said the Prince, 'The advice is good,' and so saying he gave him -three links of a gold chain which he wore, and mounted his horse and -rode swiftly until he came to a high hill which at a great distance -overlooked the castle where the lady was. Here he sat down and with his -spy-glass looked until he saw Krusstikuss kissing his great hand to the -lady. - -"This made him horribly jealous, and at once he began to get thin. Then -for four days he ate nothing and so became thinner and thinner. Of -course he was miserably in love, and this also made him lose flesh. - -"After four days he was still too fat, so he began to think of all -the hard conundrums and riddles and charades that ever were heard of, -but at last when he had been two days thinking how to make apple pies -out of donkies he became so thin that his bones were no thicker than -walking sticks, and when he stood sideways he had no shadow at all. - -"Then he took his sword and walking carefully for fear of breaking into -halves or of being blown away, he descended the hill, and late at night -knocked at a side door of the castle where the Princess Violet now -lived. - -"As soon as she heard the noise she came to the door and said, - -"'Who is it?' - -"'It is I,' answered the Prince, but his voice was so thin that he -could hardly be heard, and if the Princess had not loved him she never -would have been able to hear a word he said. - -"'My love,' he cried, 'It is I, Prince Bluets. Presently I shall -squeeze my head through the key-hole, and you must then seize me by the -hair and drag me in.' - -"Of course giants' castles have very large key-holes, and as the Prince -was as thin as could be he easily pushed his head through the key-hole, -when the Princess took hold of his hair, and pretty soon drew him into -the castle. - -"She was very much amazed when she saw him so lean and meagre, but the -Prince explained it all and they sat down and had a good talk until -morning, when the Prince hid away in a corner under some hay. - -"By and by came Krusstikuss, and looking over the castle wall said in a -large voice, 'I love you my dear. Here are some nice little dishes for -breakfast!' and so saying, he emptied his pockets of about two wagon -loads of cakes and candy and bon-bons and all kind of goodies such as -Princesses eat. - -"'Sir,' said the Princess, 'If I am to be a giant's wife, I must learn -to eat babies. If you love me you will bring me all the babies you get, -that I may keep them until they get so fat and tender that I shall be -tempted to eat them.' - -"'But what shall I live on myself?' cried Krusstikuss. - -"'Oh!' said the Princess, 'if you are in love you will not care to -eat.' - -"'That's queer,' returned the giant, 'but I suppose it won't hurt me to -suck my paws for awhile like the bears.' - -"Then he took four babies out of his hat and two out of his pockets, -saying, 'I am sorry, but I ate four on the way. To-morrow you shall -have all, and when you get them fat enough I will come and dine with -you.' - -"After this he went away leaving the babies to the Princess, who put -them all in a row and fed them with nine dough-nuts apiece, so that if -they did not get fat it was not her fault. - -"In the afternoon came Growlegrum, who was as big in length as -Krusstikuss was sideways. - -"'My love,' said he, when he had peeped over the wall, 'What's this? -Babies.' - -"'Sir,' she replied, 'Your brother loves me, and has promised me all -the babies, that I may fatten them. If you also love me at all, you -will give me the young ladies you were to eat every day, that I may -have some one to take care of the babies and feed them.' - -"'Ah me!' said the giant, 'I shall die of starvation.' - -"'Don't, if you love me,' said Violet. - -"'Enough,' cried Growlegrum. 'Here lovely Princess is the first, and -every day you shall have another.' - -"So saying, he jerked a beautiful young lady out of his pocket and set -her down inside of the castle. - -[Illustration] - -"'Good-bye,' said the Princess. - -"'Good-bye,' said the giant, 'If I stay I shall steal a baby.' - -"So he gnashed his ugly grim teeth and walked away with vast steps. - -"When he was out of sight Prince Bluets came forth, and the Princess -and he laughed with joy, because of the babies whom they had saved. But -as there was no time to lose the Prince kissed her and wriggled through -the key-hole again. - -"Then in haste he ran into the woods and took the road which led to the -city where King Hassan lived. - -"On the way he heard voices, and climbing a tree he listened eagerly -until he learned that these came from five persons who were dressed in -long robes and were riding from the town. By good luck they rested a -little while just under the tree in which Bluets lay hidden. He soon -understood that all five were lawyers whom the King had sent to see -Krusstikuss, that they might offer the Princess in marriage to him with -half of the kingdom if he would send his brother away, and learn to eat -beef and mutton in place of babies. - -"'Ho!' said the Prince, 'This won't do,' so he waited till they left, -and then descending ran back to the castle and called the Princess. - -"Then through the key-hole he gave her a little advice about the five -lawyers. After this he went away once more towards the city. - -"As for the Princess she waved her handkerchief from the castle wall -until Growlegrum espied her and strode over the hills and valleys to -the castle. - -"'Sir,' she said, 'Do not be surprised if you see a party of men in -gowns coming from the city. Go and meet them, if they think you are -Krusstikuss they will tell you something.' - -"'Good,' answered he. 'Now I perceive that you love me.' - -"Then, without waiting, he walked towards the city. A little way on he -met the five lawyers. As soon as they saw him they dismounted and threw -themselves on the ground. - -"'What do ye want?' roared Growlegrum. - -"'Oh sir!' said they, 'we would see the great giant Krusstikuss.' - -"'It is well,' returned the giant. 'Speak.' - -"'Sir,' said they, 'We come to offer to the great giant Krusstikuss -one-half of the kingdom and the Princess for a wife.' - -"'Ha!' answered the giant, 'and what shall his brother have?' - -"'Perhaps,' returned one of the lawyers, 'he might be persuaded to -leave, or else your highness could quietly knock him on the head.' - -"'Scoundrels!' roared Growlegrum, 'My name is not Krusstikuss. I'll -teach you to make trouble, you rascals.' - -"Upon this he seized them one after another, and ate the whole five. -The effects of this meal were dreadful. In five minutes Growlegrum was -bent double with stomach-ache, for you see the lawyers disagreed with -him, and they also disagreed with one another inside of him. - -"But this was not all, for in a few moments he began to grow so -quarrelsome that he became the most unsafe giant that could anywhere be -found. - -"In half an hour he was outrageous, and by the time he met his brother -he was ready to fight anybody. - -"Well the end of it was they did fight. They fought for two days and -two nights, when Krusstikuss got so weak that Growlegrum took him up by -the heels and stood him on his head and gave him a mighty spin, for he -was made just like a top, and then, while he was spinning, treated him -to a kick, and hoisted him over two hills into the sea, where he spun -to the bottom and never more was heard of. - -"When this awful battle was over Growlegrum sat on a hill and began to -pick his teeth with a fence rail. Meanwhile Prince Bluets hastened to -the city. - -"He had gone but a little way when who should he see but his -great-great-grandfather Jack, the Giant Killer, who had journeyed a -long way to see what had become of Bluets. After they had embraced one -another, the Prince told his grandfather all that had passed. - -"'You have done well,' said Jack, 'but we must now get rid of this -other giant who I hear is a terrible fellow. Let us go and see him.' - -"'Very well,' replied Bluets, 'We will go,' and so saying they turned, -and very soon spied Growlegrum sitting on the hill. As soon as ever he -saw them he roared out, - -"'Dinner! Here comes my dinner!' - -"When they had come still nearer Jack cried aloud, 'I am Jack, the -Giant Killer, and I have come to visit you.' - -"'Ha, ha!' laughed the giant, 'You are a little man and brave.' 'There -is one thing you cannot do, big though you be,' said Jack. - -"'Name it,' said Growlegrum. 'I can pull up trees and kick down towns -and chew cannon balls and eat you. What is there I cannot do?' - -"'Sir,' answered Jack, 'All these things are easy.' 'If I cannot eat -anything and kill anybody I will quit this land and go home,' said the -giant in a rage. - -"'Good!' cried Jack, 'Come with us.' - -"Upon this the giant picked them both up and walked off in the -direction which Jack pointed out. Presently they came to a house. - -"'Stop!' said Jack, and the giant set them down. - -"'Eat the man who lives in that house,' said Jack. - -"'Poh!' cried Growlegrum, and gave the house a kick which knocked it -down in a twinkling. Then he pulled out of the ruins a man who began to -roar for mercy. - -"'Oh dear!' he said, 'Don't eat me, and I will never fib any more, and -never make any more speeches ever again.' - -"'Who is he?' asked the giant. '_A member of Congress_,' cried Jack. - -"'Eat _him?_ eat _him!_ said the giant, 'I don't want to be poisoned. -You must think I am a fool.' - -"'Eat him!' cried Jack. - -"'No, sir,' said Krusstikuss. 'I'd rather leave. If I must die I would -like to die easy.' - -"So saying the giant gave a groan and set off across the hills. I do -not know where he went, but I suppose he travelled home to his mamma, -and told her what a fool Jack had made of him. - -"As soon as the giant had gone Jack and Prince Bluets went to the -castle and set free the Princess and all the babies, who showed their -gratitude by screaming for a week. But perhaps this might have been -owing to the dough-nuts they had eaten. - -"I do believe there never was such a wedding as that of Prince Bluets -and Princess Violet, for all the fairy folk came, and Cinderella and -all the fairy godmothers, and Aladdin, and Prince Nosey, and the seven -champions, and Hop O'my Thumb, Goody Two Shoes, and Red Riding Hood. -All of them brought presents to the bride, but the Prince gave her only -his love and took away from her the amulet for fear it should make any -one love her more than he could." - - * * * * * - -During the next week it rained so hard every day that no one of the -spider's family could venture out of their den. - -It was no wonder that they became hungry for stories, and that at the -first gleam of sunshine they all ran together and began to pull at the -line of cobweb to which poor Fuz-Buz was fettered. - -As for Fuz-Buz he was so wet and cold that he crawled out of his hole -with trouble and pain. - -"Ah, my dears!" cried he. "I ache all over with the gout. We lived too -high in Spain I fear." - -"Bother the gout!" said the spiders. - -"Tell us a new story, and pretty soon too, or mammy will eat you, and -won't that be worse than the gout?" - -"I don't know," answered Fuz-Buz, "I think I would rather be eaten up -at once, and have it over." - -"Ha! ha!" cried Mrs. Grabem, who overheard what the fly had said. - -"Ha! ha! you would like to be eaten; would you like to have your legs -pulled off and your wings torn, and—-?" - -"Oh dear! oh dear!" shrieked Fuz-Buz. "Pray stop, I am all in a shiver. -I will never be so hasty again." - -[Illustration] - -"Very well," returned the spider firmly. "See that you remember -what I have said, and on no account venture to keep my blessed little -children waiting. It spoils their tempers for life. I will have no more -of it." - -When Mrs. Grabem ceased, all the young spiders cried aloud, - -"You had better take care, or mammy will finish you!" - -"How are your legs?" said one. - -"Where is that story?" said another. - -"Here it is," answered Fuz-Buz, tapping his head. "I have it all here -ever since the day I heard it told by a famous Dervish at the porch of -the great Mosque of Salamanca." - - -MUSTAPHA, OR THE MUSICAL GOURD. - -"In the year of the Hegira, 709, and the twelfth of our Caliph Haroun, -the Magnificent, there lived in the royal city of Bagdad a cobbler of -the name of Ali Ben Slippah. - -"His shop was small, but being well situated at the corner of the -street of the Prophet, and the great street of Mosques, the cobbler -managed to live very comfortably, so that with the aid of Smyrna -tobacco and a contented disposition which the poet has well called the -'Pipe of the just,' he eked out a tranquil life free from care and -ambition. - -"His house was neatly kept by his daughter Lelie, or the Dark-eyed, who -was a little maiden with lips like the roses of Istamboul, and cheeks -as darkly lovely as the brown lilies of Ispahan. - -"Besides these the sole remaining member of their household was a great -black cat known by the name of Yussef, or the Hump-backed, because she -was always in an evil humour, and was forever hunching her back up to -show how cross she felt. - -"It so chanced that when Lelie was a child this cat pursued by boys and -dogs had taken refuge with Lelie, who had saved her life. Thenceforward -she had never left her, but was so jealous of her mistress that it was -enough to look at her to drive the Pussy crazy with rage. - -"Now to let you into a secret. You should know that Yussef was a wicked -genius who for a terrible crime had been condemned to live an hundred -years in the body of a cat. - -"About the time at which this trap story begins, a young soldier of the -Caliph's guard, whose name was Mustapha, fell in love with Lelie, and -as he was very handsome and clever, was so lucky as to make her also -love him in return. - -"Unhappily for them both, Yussef overheard Mustapha speaking of the day -when they were to be married, and at once fell into a fit of jealousy -which was dreadful to see. - -"In her wrath she flew at Mustapha and scratched his nose, then -knocked down and broke the cobbler's best chibouque, and at length -dashed out of the house just as Ali Ben Slippah threw his lap-stone at -her in fierce anger, because of his broken pipe. - -"It was late in the evening when Yussef darted out, and with her heart -full of jealous rage bounded up the walls and over the house-tops, -until at last she seated herself on a gable and began to think. - -"As it became later she was suddenly aware of a noble-looking person -who was walking slowly along, followed at a short distance by four -guards with drawn scimetars. - -"As soon as Yussef saw the cavalier she knew that he was the Caliph, -and remembering that he was then seeking everywhere for beautiful women -to wait upon his sick daughter, she formed on the moment the most -spiteful scheme of mischief that ever you heard of. - -"With two or three crazy leaps she alighted at the feet of the Caliph -and began to miaou a tune of the most singular character. - -"'By the beard of the Prophet!' said Haroun al Raschid, 'This is -passing wonderful! Catch that cat!' - -"But Yussef was too quick for that. She turned two somersaults, and -miaoued again. The guards and the Caliph followed her in wonder, while -she retreated until they came to the cobbler's door. Here she miaoued -once more, and leaped into an open window. - -"When the Caliph drew near as she had desired he would do, he looked -into the window and saw the beautiful Lelie. - -"'Bismillah!' cried he, as he thrust back the guards. 'Blessed be cats -for evermore! Here is the maiden I have sought for my daughter.' - -"So saying, he turned and gave brief orders to his attendants bidding -them be careful and secret; and thus saying moved away quietly through -the deserted streets. - -"Very early next morning when the cobbler had gone to market Yussef -heard a noise, and looking saw the shop full of black slaves who seized -Lelie, muffled her in a shawl, and leaving a bag of gold on the counter -hurried away swiftly. - -"As soon as they left Yussef hastened after them, and when they entered -a gilded caique on the Tigris, she also tried to leap into the boat. -But to her dismay one of the guards seized her by the tail and threw -her thirty feet away into the river. - -"Yussef spluttered and spit as she came to the surface, and must surely -have been drowned had she been a real cat. - -"As it was she lost three out of her nine lives, and unluckily came to -land on the premises of a tanner where she was set upon by six dogs -who tore her hair out and bit her tail, and altogether so misused her -that she came to look more like a bit of ill-used foot-rug than a -respectable Maltese cat. - -"At last, with her heart full of rage and her stomach full of water, -she reached home to find the poor cobbler in the utmost grief for the -loss of his daughter. - -"By and by he resigned himself to his fate, and seeing well that no -common person had stolen the maiden, he smoked the more abundantly, -and like a true believer took comfort in that verse of the Koran which -says, 'All things that are are well; but some, saith the Prophet, are -disagreeable.' - -"Meanwhile poor Mustapha became nearly crazed with grief. He roamed the -streets all day, and at evening returned to the cobbler's in the vain -hope of hearing some news of Lelie. - -"On one of these occasions he was so unlucky as to stumble over Yussef -who gave him a fierce scratch, and fled from his wrath to devise new -plans of mischief, for although Lelie was gone, she was lost to herself -as well as to Mustapha, and the cat never had ceased to hate him as the -cause of all her troubles. - -"Yussef therefore resolved to rid herself of his presence, and she set -about it after her own wicked fashion. - -"Some two or three nights later Mustapha was wandering sadly in the -gardens of the Caliph when he heard a voice from the trees above him -saying, - -"'Come to-night to the tomb of the Caliphs, under the cedars, on the -road to Damascus, and thou shalt hear news of thy love.' - -"The voice sounded like that of Lelie, and the soldier in vain sought -about him on every side for its source. At length the words were -repeated and he made up his mind to obey them. - -"It was near midnight when Mustapha found himself at the appointed -spot. All Bagdad lay behind him still and slumbering. Here and there -a long arrow of light darted from some tall minaret, while the full -moon-light pouring down on the Mosque of El Rahab lit up its golden -dome like a mound of fire. - -"Before him the quiet groves of fig and olive, pomegranates and -mourning cypresses stretched away for miles, bounded in the far -distance by the curves of the Tigris, whose broad bendings flashed in -the light like gigantic scimetars. - -"As Mustapha approached the Caliph's tomb he came to an open space -girt in by dense thickets. Pushing these aside he stepped cautiously -forward, for he heard a sound of music and voices. - -"Presently a fire flashed up on the open ground among the ruined tombs, -and the soldier shook with fear as he looked on what its light revealed. - -"Seated about the slope which led downwards on every side to a broken -tomb were gigantic figures in white robes that floated about them like -mist, so that only sometimes he could see their solemn faces. - -"From the tomb came slowly a long procession of Ghouls and Vampires -and Afrites of hideous shapes, such as men see in dreams, while all the -air and the ground seemed to be alive with a myriad of little winged -forms who hovered about like butterflies. - -"At last there was silence, when Yussef suddenly appeared before the -tallest of the Genii, and miaoued frightfully. - -"Then the Genie said in a mild great voice, 'What would you of your -brethren?' - -"'The man,' said Yussef, 'who has mocked my fallen estate and stolen my -love from me is here awaiting judgment.' - -"When Mustapha heard these words he was ready to die with fear, but his -limbs refused to bear him away and he was forced to support himself by -grasping a tree. - -"'Oh King,' cried Yussef, 'Let him be brought to thee.' - -"'Be it so!' said the Genie. - -"At this two fearful-looking Afrites leaped into the air, and with one -swoop of their clawed wings alighted beside Mustapha. Then they seized -him and thrust him into the circle before the cloudy form of the King -of the Genii who thus addressed him. - -"'It is not given us to slay, but that thou shalt no more trouble us -we order thee to become a gourd, and as we may not sentence any to an -endless fate it shall be that when it pleaseth Allah to turn thee -inside out thou shalt then only assume again the form of man.' - -"'It is well,' cried Yussef. 'Thanks, oh King!' - -"At these words Mustapha fainted. When he recovered he found himself -hanging on a vine near by, and presently discovered that he was a huge -green gourd. - -"After this many days fled away, and Mustapha the gourd grew bigger and -bigger, and at last began to ripen and turn yellow. - -"Every night as he hung on the vine he saw the strange midnight -meetings of the Genii and Ghouls and Afrites. All the wonderful things -he heard and saw no one will ever know, for he saw their wild feasts -and dances, and heard music such as before no mortal ears had ever -listened to. - -"At length one warm summer morning two farmers came by on the way to -market. - -"'Bismillah!' cried one, as he saw the great gourd Mustapha. 'What a -monstrous gourd!' - -"'Let us take it with us and sell it,' said the second. - -"Thus saying he took a knife from his girdle and cut the stem by which -Mustapha hung. This caused him so much pain that he cried aloud, - -"'What's that?' said the farmer. 'The gourd speaks! It is alive!' - -"Upon this he pricked the gourd with his knife. At this Mustapha -exclaimed, 'Don't!' - -"'Mahomet!' said the farmer. 'The thing is enchanted. It will fetch us -a fortune.' - -"Shortly afterwards they carried the gourd to the market. Here they -made a goodly fortune by running pins into Mustapha that he might cry -out for the amusement of the by-standers. - -"Before long all Bagdad flocked to see and hear this wonderful gourd, -and at last an officer of the Caliph's household arrived, payed a great -sum for the gourd, and putting it in a basket, carried it away to the -Palace. - -"By and by Mustapha found himself in a superb room of the Palace, -where, surrounded by her ladies, the Princess lay upon a couch. - -"Suddenly Mustapha the gourd as he lay in his basket heard the voice of -his beloved Lelie who was fanning the Princess. - -"This so moved poor Mustapha that he cried aloud, - -"'Allah! I hear my love!' and so saying rolled from the basket and fell -at Lelie's feet. - -"'Mahomet!' cried the Princess. 'The thing is bewitched! take it away!' - -"But as for Lelie the words were as sweet music to her, and seizing the -gourd she placed it tenderly in the basket and carried it to her room. -Here she implored it with tears to speak again, but in vain; so that at -last she was forced to leave it and return to the Princess. - -"Soon after she had gone Mustapha was aware of a rose-colored cloud in -the room, out of which grew into shape the form of a huge Genie which -thus addressed him. - -"'Know, frail mortal, that I am your guardian spirit. I have heard -with pity of your sad fate and am come to give you a chance for life -again. Perhaps what I shall do for you may render your position better. -Unluckily I cannot give to you once more your mortal shape.' - -"With these words the figure inclined towards him gravely and touched -his yellow cheek. He shuddered and lost consciousness. - -"What next was his amazement to find himself standing in the shop of -Harim, the merchant. Presently he began to look at himself with curious -care. He had a gold head like that of a bird, with ruby eyes. His -neck was of satin wood, long and slim, while his clothes which were -stiffened with whalebone and wire, resembled petticoats upside down. - -"'Allah il Allah!' cried he, 'What an existence!' - -"Just then a Dervish looking at him asked the merchant, 'What is that?' - -"'It is,' answered he, 'a Frankish device which the men in Frangistan -carry to keep off the rain. Their women are only allowed to carry -smaller ones, so they make up for that by bearing them about in fair as -well as wet weather.' - -"'A device of Eblis!' exclaimed the Dervish, and muttering a verse of -the Koran, walked gravely away. - -"By and by came the grand Purveyor of the Caliph. He was seeking new -and curious things for the Princess, who was ill and refused to eat so -that day after day she became more feeble. - -"'Ah!' said the Purveyor, 'This is a Frank tent. I saw them when I was -Envoy to the court of Charlemagne.' - -"At this Mustapha blushed, for the officer seized him and began to -expand his skirts so that his leg, for he had but one, was alarmingly -exposed. - -"Very soon the Purveyor, having paid a good price, took Mustapha away -to the Palace where he explained the uses of this portable tent. - -"'This,' said he, 'Is what the Franks, whom Allah confound! call an -umbrella, and the female of the thing they term a parasol.' - -"'I shall need it not,' said the Princess Ellera. 'No sun will shine -on me any more. On me no rain will fall. I shall die if I find nothing -that I can eat.' - -"'Take it Lelie,' she cried, 'As thou hast lost thy gourd, take it.' - -"Upon this Lelie took Mustapha away and placed him in a quiet corner of -her room. - -"Meanwhile some days went by, and all the cooks tried in vain to please -the sick Princess. All day long an army of slaves went past her bed, -each bearing some rare dish or some luscious fruit, but still alas! in -vain; so that at length the doctors decided that if she did not eat -within a day she would surely die. - -"Lelie, who was in great distress, left the Princess and went to her -own room to weep alone. At last she arose to go out into the garden, -thinking that perhaps the Princess might be tempted by a rose-leaf -salad. - -"As she walked past Mustapha he cried aloud, 'Take me.' - -"'This is queer,' said she, but when the words were repeated she -clutched the Frankish toy and ran out into the garden. Here she -wandered long, but as evening fell she suddenly saw that a storm had -gathered. - -"Before she could reach the Palace, a wild gust of wind caught in -Mustapha's skirts and nearly tore him from her hand. As she struggled -the wind expanded his petticoats, and at last crack went the wires, and -then what do you think? - -"Mustapha was turned inside out, and the umbrella was a man once more. - -"In a moment he explained everything, but after he had kissed her twice -she began to sob, for now she knew that he had escaped one evil fate -only to light upon another as fearful. - -"'Ah!' she cried, 'a man! You, a soldier, in the gardens of the Palace! -You will be put to death at once.' - -"'No!' he answered, after thinking a little. 'Not if I can save the -Princess. Let us go to the Caliph and confess all. Meanwhile have no -fears.' - -"Lelie at last gave her consent, and with trembling steps she left him, -and seeking the Princess related their strange story. - -"In a moment all was confusion. A man in the harem! - -"'Bowstrings and sacks!' cried the captain of the guard, as he hurried -Mustapha before the Caliph. - -"'Wretch!' said Al Raschid the Caliph, 'Who art thou?' - -"'A soldier,' said Mustapha. - -"'Let him die!' cried Al Raschid. - -"'Oh Caliph,' answered Mustapha, 'In the land of the Genii it was given -me once to learn secrets of the vile Franks, wherewith it may be that I -can save thy daughter the Princess.' - -"'Thou dost lie like unto a rusty weathercock,' said the Caliph, 'But -that none may say I am unjust, take this man to the kitchen. Let him do -his best, and if he fail have him strangled instantly.' - -"'It is well said,' replied Mustapha. - -"Very soon he was left alone in the great kitchen of the Palace, while -all the strange things he had seen at the feasts of the Genii came back -to his mind. - -"Presently he sought about him among the stores of provisions, and -took from a basket those striped apples which grow by the brooks of -Alkeldrina. - -"These he pared deftly and set each within a cup of wheaten dough, -such as only the Caliph's farms can furnish. Therein he placed also -the golden orange-peel and the spices of distant Borneo. Lastly, he -sprinkled it within and without with the aromatic sugar of Turkan, and -hanging each apple thus prepared in a silken net carefully cooked them. - -"When they were ready he placed them upon golden dishes, and threw over -each a hail of snowy sugar and fragrant cinnamon, covering all with a -handful of almond blossoms. - -"Then he called the guard, and with scimetars crossed over his head he -was allowed to carry his dish to the Princess. As she looked languidly -upon it he shook off the blossoms. - -"'Then,' said the Princess, 'These be the roses of Paradise which I do -smell.' - -"At these words he knelt down and offered the dish to the lady. -Wonderful to tell the Princess called for a silver fork and ate up the -whole of the apples so greedily that she scalded her throat in the most -dreadful way. - -"But between every mouthful she blessed poor Mustapha as the king of -cooks, and from that instant she recovered so quickly as to disgust all -the doctors, who said Mustapha was a quack, and went away. - -"Of course he married Lelie, and had a patent for making this wonderful -dish, and was created Lord Marquis of Apple-butter and Duke of -Dumplings, and lived merrily all his days." - - * * * * * - -"That's a good story," cried the spiders. - -"Glad you like it," said Fuz-Buz. "Now if you please I will sleep, as I -am tired." - -In this pleasant way the days went by until Fuz-buz had told them nine -hundred and ninety-nine stories. - -On this last evening he overheard the spiders talking as he lay tied by -the leg in a deep dark crack of the apple tree where he slept. - -"My children," said the old spider, "After Fuz-Buz has told us one more -story we will eat him. It will be best to wait until after dark, and -then seize him on a sudden and kill him; for he is a very strong fly, -and may give me trouble." - -They all agreed to this excepting the youngest, who said it would be a -shame to serve him so, and that they ought to let him go. - -But Mrs. Grabem replied, "You know nothing of house-keeping my dear. Go -to sleep and hold your tongue." - -When Fuz-Buz overheard all this he was scared to death. All next day he -was so sick that he could not even tell the shortest story. - -At night-fall when the family had gone to their den, he sat on the tree -near his cosy little crack and tried to gnaw the web which held him. - -Unluckily it was too tough. When he was in despair who should hum by -but a huge Bee. - -"Halloa!" said he, "What's wrong with you?" - -"Sir!" replied Fuz-Buz, "I am tied by the leg to this web, and am to be -eaten to-night by a cruel monster of a spider who lives near, and who -will overhear you if you do not speak in a low voice." - -"Who's afraid?" said the Bee. "Which leg is it?" - -"This," answered Fuz-Buz. - -"Pshaw!" cried the Bee, and with that he twisted the web about his legs -and gave a jump. Snap went the line and Fuz-buz was free once more. -Never a fly was so glad as he. - -"Sir!" he said, "I am only sorry that you have not had the honour to -slay this vile spider. Now if you were to slip into this crack where I -sleep, you would have a fine chance, because when Mrs. Grabem comes to -eat me you could give her a pleasing surprise." - -"That's a rather jolly notion," answered the Bee. So he went down on -the ground, and after sharpening his sting on a smooth pebble, thrust -himself deep into the crack where Fuz-Buz was wont to sleep. - -But as for Fuz-Buz the fly, he sat on a limb above and looked on. After -a little, when it was dark or nearly so, out came Mrs. Grabem slowly, -and crawling over her web went down into the crack to murder poor -innocent Fuz-Buz. Presently she cried aloud, - -"Oh! I'm dead!" which was true in a moment, for Sir Bee had run his -long sword straight through her, and she had tumbled off the tree as -dead as could be. - -At the sound of her voice all the young spiders ran out, and in a -moment they saw Sir Bee with his quick sword. In a twinkling he stabbed -them one after another, until he came to the youngest. Then Fuz-Buz -said, - -"Halloa! my friend, let this one go, for he was the only one who did -not desire to kill me." - -"Sir!" cried the youngest spider, "I do not wish to live after you have -killed my mother and all my brothers and sisters. Take that, sir!" - -So saying he dealt the Bee such a crack that he was forced to stab him -like the rest, and there at last was the end of all of them. - -As for Fuz-Buz, he said "Well, it's one spider less, and so many flies -more. Spiders are of no use and flies are." - -Meanwhile Sir Bee wiped his sword and took up his bag of honey, feeling -that he had done a clever day's work, while Fuz-Buz flew away to Spain, -and never could be brought to tell anybody a story long or short up to -the end of his happy life. - - - - - ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ - │ Transcriber's Note: │ - │ │ - │ Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. │ - │ Otherwise spelling variations were not changed. │ - │ │ - │ Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained. │ - │ │ - │ Mid-paragraph illustrations have been moved between paragraphs │ - │ and some illustrations have been moved closer to the text that │ - │ references them. The List of Illustrations pagination was │ - │ changed accordingly. │ - │ │ - │ Italicized words are surrounded by underline characters, _like │ - │ this_. │ - └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wonderful Stories of Fuz-Buz the -Fly and Mother Grabem the Spider, by Silas Wier Mitchell - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FUZ-BUZ THE FLY *** - -***** This file should be named 52899-0.txt or 52899-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/8/9/52899/ - -Produced by MWS, Christian Boissonnas and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Wonderful Stories of Fuz-Buz the Fly and Mother Grabem the Spider - -Author: Silas Wier Mitchell - -Release Date: August 26, 2016 [EBook #52899] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FUZ-BUZ THE FLY *** - - - - -Produced by MWS, Christian Boissonnas and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter bord"><a name="i_frontis.jpg" id="i_frontis.jpg"></a> - <img src="images/i_frontis.jpg" width="398" height="600" alt="Frontispiece." /> -</div> - - -<h1 class="no-break"> -<span class="smaller">THE</span><br /><br /> -WONDERFUL STORIES<br /><br /> -<span class="xx-smaller">OF</span><br /><br /> -<span class="larger">FUZ-BUZ THE FLY</span><br /><br /> -<span class="xx-smaller">AND</span><br /><br /> -MOTHER GRABEM<br /><br /> -<span class="xx-smaller">THE</span><br /><br /> -SPIDER.</h1> - -<p class="noindent ac p4">PHILADELPHIA<br /> -J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.,<br /> -1867. -</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<p class="noindent ac"> -Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by<br /> -J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.,<br /> -In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> - -<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_003.jpg" id="i_003.jpg"></a> - <img src="images/i_003.jpg" width="600" height="133" alt="Page decoration." /> -</div> - -<p class="noindent ac p4"><span class="larger">MRS. GRABEM AND FUZ-BUZ.</span></p> - -<div class="p2"> - <img class="drop-cap" src="images/drop_m.jpg" width="50" height="50" alt="M drop cap." /> -</div> -<p class="noindent drop-cap">MRS. GRABEM was a hairy spider who knit -cobwebs and caught flies and brought up a -small household of nine young spiders.</p> - -<p>When I first knew this happy family, and learned all the -wonderful things they heard and did, their home was as -pretty a place as a spider need want. Their web was -spun to and fro across the crotch of an old apple tree, -and when they looked down they could see the green -grass, and when they looked up they could see the great -jolly red apples which must have looked to those young -spiders just as the stars look to our own young folks.</p> - -<p>On one side of their web, Mrs. Grabem had knit with -great labour a long dark cave all of cobweb, where the -family slept at night, and where they lay trembling while -the great winds blew and the tree rocked and bent.</p> - -<p>One fine breezy morning in June, when the leaves -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> -above were clapping their palms for joy at growing, and -when the birds were tossing little love songs to one another, -the old lady sat mending her web which a great -wasp had broken. Meanwhile, the young spiders chased -each other along one thread and down another and -shook the dew from the web as they played.</p> - -<p>"Ah!" said the eldest of them, as he saw it sparkle in -the sun, "these must be the diamonds we have heard -about."</p> - -<p>"No," said another, "they look to me blue, they are -turquoises."</p> - -<p>"Geese!" said a third, who was on a distant part of the -web, "they are drops of gold, any one can see they are -yellow."</p> - -<p>At this they fell to abusing each other, when suddenly -the old lady cried out, "Foolish children, if you change -places you will see that each of you is right. You make -me think of a tale which my grandmother used to tell -me. It is a story which has come down in our family -from your ancestor who gave Robert Bruce such very -good advice without ever saying a word. You know -that the king was looking at the spider when he was -swinging a line, striving to fasten it. The spider having -tried six times was about to stop, for before this spiders -never tried more than six times. But when he looked up -and saw the king he knew just what was needed to give -him courage, and therefore it was that the spider made -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> -one more mighty effort, and so at last made fast the -web.</p> - -<p>"Thus you see that our ancestor invented trying seven -times, although I think the Bruce usually gets more credit -than the spider. When this wise spider grew older he -went to Spain in the helmet of the good Lord Douglas -who was killed by the Moors, so that they got his helmet -and your great-great-great-grandfather, who kept quiet -enough in the darkest corner until he was carried to -Granada, where he lived a long while and found the flies -many, and tender, and of good flavour. And this was one -of his stories which he had gotten at Granada, when he -lay among the Moors."</p> - -<p>Then all the young spiders listened, and the old mother -spider began.</p> - -<p>"One night the King Almanzor was walking alone -when he overheard three water-carriers gossiping.</p> - -<p>"'I would not be the King,' said Amric, the first who -spoke. 'Every morning before prayers I peep through a -crack in the wall of the Palace garden, and always I see -the King grave and sober, just when the sun is rising -red and the birds are laughing and telling their dreams. -I would not be a King, to look sober at dawn every day -in the year. A grave man is the King.'</p> - -<p>"'Bosh!' said the second, whose name was Hassan. -'The King is a sad man. He must have done some evil -in his youth, for just before noon-day prayers I look into -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> -the Palace garden from my window, and lo! always the -King kneels weeping at the great fountain, which we -call the forest of waters.'</p> - -<p>"'And I,' cried Amrah, 'think ye both wrong. A -merry man is King Almanzor. For ever at evening, -when the minarets call to prayer, I have seen the King at -the fountain laughing, always laughing, always glad. A -foolish man must the King be to laugh at nothing.'</p> - -<p>"'He's too sober,' said one.</p> - -<p>"'Too sad,' cried the second.</p> - -<p>"'Too merry,' said the third.</p> - -<p>"Then each held to his own opinion, and abused the -others, until from words they came to blows.</p> - -<p>"This roused the guard, who seized upon the whole -three, and was taking them away, when the King whispered -to the Captain to bring them to the Palace next -day.</p> - -<p>"Accordingly in the morning they were brought to the -King in the garden before prayer time.</p> - -<p>"'I hear,' said Almanzor, 'that you talked of me last -night. It is said that you think me sober, sad, and -foolish.'</p> - -<p>"Not one of them answered.</p> - -<p>"'I will think of your crime, and how you shall be -punished. Begone, and return hither at noon.'</p> - -<p>"At noon-tide they were brought again to the King, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> -who said to them gravely, 'You have abused the King. -You shall die to-morrow.'</p> - -<p>"'Woe is me!" cried they all, and as they were led -away the King stayed weeping by the water's edge.</p> - -<p>"But at evening, the guard took them out yet once -more, and this time the King was merry, and the sound -of music mocked their sadness.</p> - -<p>"'You are pardoned,' said the King Almanzor. 'Judge -not lightly of me again. In the morning I reflect on the -crimes which I have to judge, and then I am grave. At -noon I condemn some to die, and then ever I weep. But -at night-fall I pardon the least guilty, and then always I -am glad at heart. Be ye also merry to-night, and to-morrow -wiser.'</p> - -<p>"And thus saying, the King gave them a purse of -gold and turned away."</p> - -<p>"What a little story," cried the young spiders.</p> - -<p>"Hush!" answered Mrs. Grabem. "Now I must mend -this hole in our cobweb. But, bless me! run to the den. -Here comes a big fly."</p> - -<p>Quick as could be they all ran into the dark passage -and Mrs. Grabem stayed at the door. Pretty soon the fly -flew near. He was a handsome gay fellow all over gold -and purple and sparkling in the sun-light. He thought -he would have a little of the nice gum which flowed from -the apple tree bark, so he flew nearer, but just as he alighted -his legs caught in the net and then what a fuss he made! -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> -Buz, Buz, and pulled and bit, but it was in vain, for -he was held fast by a long cobweb which allowed him to -go a little way but no further.</p> - -<p>Then Mrs. Grabem ran out, and pulled at the web, -and drew him near, when all the little spiders began to -sing, "We shall have a good breakfast."</p> - -<p>"What! do you mean to eat me?" said Fuz-buz, the -Fly. "I never hurt you."</p> - -<p>"Oh no," said Mrs. Grabem, "you will do us a great -deal of good very soon. You are a queer-looking fly -any how. I hope you won't disagree with my children. -Where do you live?"</p> - -<p>"In Spain," replied Fuz-buz proudly. "I am a Spanish -fly."</p> - -<p>"Dear me," cried one of the spiders, "perhaps you can -tell us some stories."</p> - -<p>"I know a thousand fairy tales," said Fuz-buz.</p> - -<p>"Oh mamma!" said one fat little spider, "It would be -a shame to eat a thousand stories all at once. Let us -keep him until he tells us nine hundred and ninety-nine -tales, and then we can eat him afterwards."</p> - -<p>"That I call good advice," cried Mrs. Grabem, and at -once she fastened the cobweb so that poor Fuz-buz could -walk just a little way from the web and no farther.</p> - -<p>"And now," said she, "twice a day you must tell my -children a story. But never let me find you trying to get -away or I will eat you in a moment."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> - -<p>The young spiders could hardly wait.</p> - -<p>"Quick!" they cried, "a story!" "a story!"</p> - -<p>"What about?" replied Fuz-buz, glad to be spared.</p> - -<p>"Oh about men, big men like Robert Bruce," said -they, "and about a Princess too."</p> - -<p>"Very well," returned Fuz-buz, "Don't eat me, and I -will tell you no end of stories and the first shall be -about</p> - - -<p class="noindent ac p2"><span class="sc">Lady Golden Hair and her Two Lovers, Prince -Clever and Prince Sturdy</span>.</p> - -<p>"A long while ago, and far far away, a lady lived -who had such beautiful locks that the people named her -Lady Golden Hair. Folks said that when she was little, -her fairy Godmother had so well woven three strands of -sunshine with her curly tresses that it never got loose -again, and I suppose this must have been so, because -when at night she walked in the garden all the flowers -woke up and looked about thinking the daylight had -come.</p> - -<p>"All day long her maidens combed her hair with -combs of gold, and at evening sang to her of the beautiful -Prince who would one day come across the seas and win -her love for evermore.</p> - -<p>"Many came and looked into her deep brown eyes, -but none suited her, and so she shook her golden hair, -and they went their ways again.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p> - -<p>"At length her Father the King said she must make -up her mind to marry somebody.</p> - -<p>"The Princess said, 'I will marry no one who does -not own a Roc's egg, And no one who has not kissed me, -and no one who has not a lock of hair to show exactly -like my own. And no one shall kiss me, and no one -ever shall have a lock of my hair, and where on earth -will any one get a Roc's egg? and so how shall I ever be -married? No, I never will marry anybody.'</p> - -<p>"At this her Father was in despair, but as he -thought that perhaps some one might be bright enough -to outwit the Princess, he caused it to be proclaimed -everywhere that the Lady Golden Hair would marry the -man who had kissed her, and who could show a lock of -hair just like hers, and who owned a Roc's egg.</p> - -<p>"When her lovers heard this they all cried and went -away, except two who were named Prince Clever and -Prince Sturdy.</p> - -<p>"Prince Clever was handsome and tall, and very -cunning, because he was a Sorcerer's son, but Prince -Sturdy was brave and straightforward, and had honest -eyes of his own which were brown as garnets and as -steady as stars.</p> - -<p>"Now when these two heard about the Princess, and -what must be done to marry her, Prince Clever said, -'I am so cunning that I shall be sure to succeed;' but -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> -Prince Sturdy said, 'Thorns are roses to those who love! -I will try.'</p> - -<p>"When the Princess saw them she wished silently -that Prince Sturdy might succeed; still she only said, -'How foolish you both must be. Do either of you own a -Roc's egg?' and then she bade them good-bye and they -kissed their hands to her and rode away by different -paths till each of them entered a wood where they dismounted, -and thought how to get a Roc's egg. 'Then,' -said Clever, 'I see;' but Sturdy said, 'I will ride till I -find one.'</p> - -<p>"About a thousand miles away, across a great sea, -lived a Roc who had just laid an egg as big as a house -and as hard as marble. No one knew where she lived -except a witch, to whose cave in a great hill Prince -Clever rode swiftly.</p> - -<p>"Because he was a Sorcerer's son the witch came -out to speak to him. But, meanwhile, Prince Sturdy -having become lost in the woods rode on, until at night-fall -he heard voices.</p> - -<p>"Then he alighted and clambered over the hill and -lay quiet until he heard to his delight the witch telling -Clever where to get the Roc's egg.</p> - -<p>"As quick as could be Sturdy got on his horse and -rode away as hard as ever a man could ride. By and -by he came to the sea, where he hired a ship, and sailed -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> -many days to a desolate land where was nothing but -hills of gray sand.</p> - -<p>"Here he went on shore and sent the ship away. -Then, drawing his sword, he climbed a great sand hill -and after two days reached the top. There he saw in -a mighty nest the great egg, as white and smooth as -ivory.</p> - -<p>"As soon as the Roc flew away to get her dinner the -Prince came near and began to crack a big hole in the -egg with his sword. Presently all the insides of the egg -ran out of the hole and nearly drowned him. When -it was well emptied and the whole of it had flowed away -to the sea, the Prince put his bag of cakes into the egg, -and then his sword, and at last squeezed himself in.</p> - -<p>"He was just able to thrust his turban into the hole, -when the Roc flew home to her nest.</p> - -<p>"When she left her nest once more Sturdy made a -nice little opening as big as a pea, so that he could just -see through it. And what think you he saw?</p> - -<p>"There were two ships on the sea, and Prince Clever -with a hundred men. Very soon they came up the hill -and began to push the egg and to heave it over with -crow-bars and beams of wood, until it rolled to the edge -of the sand heap. Then to Prince Sturdy's horror the -egg began to turn over and over down the hill to the sea.</p> - -<p>"Fast it went, and faster and faster, while Sturdy -tumbled over and over, and was on his head one minute, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> -and on his heels the next, till at last splash went the egg -into the water and floated lightly on the rolling waves.</p> - -<div class="figcenter bord"><a name="i_012.jpg" id="i_012.jpg"></a> - <img src="images/i_012.jpg" width="600" height="353" - alt="Egg on the rolling waves." /> -</div> - -<p>"Very soon the sailors tied a rope around the egg, -and fastened the other end to their ships, and sailed away -rejoicing.</p> - -<p>"In this manner they sailed many weeks, until poor -Sturdy had eaten his last cake and was nearly starved to -death.</p> - -<p>"When at last they came to land, the egg was hoisted -on to a huge car, and a hundred horses drew it to the -Palace of the Princess Golden Hair, while Prince Clever -rode alongside as happy as could be.</p> - -<p>"When the lady saw Clever and the egg she was ready -to cry with vexation, because she knew there was only -one Roc's egg in the world, and because Prince Clever -had gotten it.</p> - -<p>"Soon her father called her to welcome the Prince, and -every one went to see the egg, while the music sounded -and the people hurrahed for Prince Clever.</p> - -<p>"As soon as he saw the lady he ran and knelt and -said, 'Princess, here is my Roc's egg.'</p> - -<p>"Then a voice was heard saying, 'No, it is mine!'</p> - -<p>"'Who spoke?' said Clever.</p> - -<p>"'I,' said the voice, 'It is mine!'</p> - -<p>"But no one could tell where the voice came from.</p> - -<p>"At last the Chief Magician cried aloud, 'Who dares -to mock the King?'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Then said the voice, 'Oh great Magician, who owns -the house, he who lives in it, or he who looks at it?'</p> - -<p>"'He who lives in it,' answered the Magician.</p> - -<p>"'Then it is my egg,' said Sturdy, as he broke away -the shell and stepped out of the hole in the side of the -egg.</p> - -<div class="figcenter bord"><a name="i_014.jpg" id="i_014.jpg"></a> - <img src="images/i_014.jpg" width="600" height="362" - alt="Sturdy broke away the shell and stepped out." /> -</div> - -<p>"'Ah,' said the lady to herself, 'what beautiful eyes -he has.' But Prince Clever smote his breast, and the -people hurrahed for Prince Sturdy.</p> - -<p>"Meanwhile Sturdy knelt to the Lady. 'Ah,' said he, -'it is easy to live in a Roc's egg, or to storm a city for a -Lady's love, but to kiss her and to find hair like thine, -woe is me! How can these things be done?'</p> - -<p>"As for Clever, he smiled, and said to himself, 'It is -hard to bring a Roc's egg home, but to cheat a woman -with a lock of hair and to steal a kiss is easy.'</p> - -<p>"After Prince Clever had eaten and rested the two -Princes kissed their hands to the lady and rode away once -more to find a tress of hair which should be like that of -the Princess.</p> - -<p>"Now what did Prince Clever do to get the lady? -He went into the country to see his fairy godmother and -to ask her advice, and this was what she told him to do.</p> - -<p>"He was to dress himself like a pedlar and was to -take with him a beautiful great opal, and afterwards he -was to do other things which presently you shall hear of.</p> - -<p>"When the Fairy told him all these things he said, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> -'Ah Godmother, how shall I make my nose long and -my mouth big and ugly so as to be like a real pedlar?'</p> - -<p>"'Well my dear,' she replied, 'that is easy,' and so saying -she put a forefinger into the two corners of his mouth -and pulled it until one corner was under each ear.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_015.jpg" id="i_015.jpg"></a> - <img src="images/i_015.jpg" width="600" height="605" - alt="She put a forefinger into the two corners of his mouth." /> -</div> - -<p>"'I think that will do,' she said, 'and as to your nose, -take a pinch of this snuff.'</p> - -<p>"No sooner had he done as she desired than he began -to sneeze so hard that in five minutes the end of his delicate -nose was blown out into a great round purple knob, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> -which was so bright that he could not keep from squinting -to get a look at it.</p> - -<p>"'I do not think any one will know you now,' said the -Fairy, 'but be careful not to open your mouth very wide -or possibly your head may fall off backwards.'</p> - -<p>"'Upon my word,' cried the Prince when he looked -at his face in a smooth pool of water, 'If I be as cunning -as I am ugly I shall surely win the Lady!'</p> - -<p>"The Fairy then gave him a little red cloak, and bade -him walk like an old man and be careful.</p> - -<p>"Finally she placed in his basket a gold box containing -the magical opal.</p> - -<div class="figcenter bord"><a name="i_016.jpg" id="i_016.jpg"></a> - <img src="images/i_016.jpg" width="399" height="600" - alt="The Fairy then gave him a little red cloak." /> -</div> - -<p>"When he had left her she drew a ring on the ground -and stood within it, and enchanted the Lady Golden Hair -with wicked words, so that for four days and nights she -had no sleep, because the instant her lids closed she -dreamed that nine beautiful ladies were kissing Prince -Sturdy, and that he was also kissing one of them and -the one he kissed was not herself.</p> - -<p>"So it was that all these days she lay awake angry, -and all the while Prince Clever rode fiercely to her garden -gate.</p> - -<p>"Near by he hid his horse, and walking like an old -man came to the Palace slowly and asked to see the -Lady.</p> - -<p>"The guard laughed at his nose and told him the -Princess was ill and could not sleep.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'It is well,' answered he, 'I have a charm here to -bring her sleep.'</p> - -<p>"As soon as this was known he was quickly ordered -to the chamber of the Princess, where resting on a couch -she lay, while her ladies fanned her with fans made of -fresh flowers which every ten minutes were brought to -them by slaves.</p> - -<p>"Although she felt very badly from want of sleep no -sooner did she see the Prince with his new face than she -began to laugh until she cried with mirth. 'For tears,' -said Saadi the poet, 'are the diamonds of affliction and -the pearls of merriment.'</p> - -<p>"After a time however the Princess grew silent, -although she did not dare to look at him when he talked. -Now this was what he said,—'Here is an amulet for them -that sleep not, or sleeping have evil dreams. Let thy -ladies leave thee, and in a moment thou shalt sleep.'</p> - -<p>"'Instantly begone!' cried the Princess to her maidens. -'Fly! I have no fears. Let a slave with a drawn scimetar -keep the door and leave me with this wise and astonishing -man.'</p> - -<p>"Then, when there were none in the room but the Lady -and himself, the Prince opened his gold box and lifted out -of it a large opal which shone with a dim gray sleepy -lustre with points of red and purple light.</p> - -<p>"When he held the jewel up before her eyes she said, -'It has letters on it. What be they? What do they mean?'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'The words,' he replied, 'are the names of the nine -most stupid books that ever were written, and within is -the name of the sleepiest man that ever lived, and also -the name of a very young baby who slept every night all -night long.'</p> - -<p>"'It is well,' said the Princess. 'Let me sleep.'</p> - -<p>"'Rise!' said the Prince, and she stood erect while he -held the opal before her eyes, and the golden flow of her -hair fell from head to neck and from waist to floor in -curves of darkling gold like the early sunlight when it is -yet touched with the fading brown of twilight.</p> - -<p>"As she gazed fixedly at the jewel her eyelids closed, -and drowsy languor grew upon her face, till at last she -swayed backwards and fell upon the couch.</p> - -<p>"Then the Prince laid the jewel on the floor and -crushed it with his foot. As it brake, a rosy flame flashed -from it, and a heavy odorous smoke curled upwards -and filled the room with dense vapour.</p> - -<p>"Then the Prince took a long lock of her golden hair, -and with his dagger cut it quickly. When he had twisted -it around his sword hilt he leaned over and kissed her -cheek, but though the Lady slept the blood seemed to -leap to the spot he had touched, and her cheek grew -scarlet, as he turned away ashamed and fled from the -palace.</p> - -<p>"Near to the garden he mounted his horse, and spurred -swiftly away through the night, while the trees moaned -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> -in the wind as he passed, and the birds awoke and sang, -'Shame! shame!' till he stopped his ears and fled faster -and faster.</p> - -<p>"Thus it was that Prince Clever kissed the Lady and -had a golden lock to show which was like her own, because -it was her own. The next day he met Sturdy.</p> - -<p>"'Ha! ha!' said Clever, 'you own a Roc's egg, but I -have kissed the Lady, and who do you think has hair -like this?'</p> - -<p>"'Only one,' replied Prince Sturdy sadly.</p> - -<p>"'We shall meet to-morrow,' said Clever, for so they -had agreed, and thus saying he rode away.</p> - -<p>"Prince Sturdy also arose and entered a wood near -by, for he was sick at heart and desired to see no man's -face.</p> - -<p>"In a little while he was aware of two wild roses beside -a rock on which he had seated himself. As he -thought of the Lady he wept, and just one tear fell upon -a rose.</p> - -<p>"Then said a faint clear voice, 'The dew falls.'</p> - -<p>"'I hope it is rain,' said another voice which was still -more sweet and pure.</p> - -<p>"'Ah,' sighed the Prince, 'happy roses!'</p> - -<p>"'Why do you weep?' said the roses, for it was their -voices he had heard.</p> - -<p>"'Because I may not steal a lady's kiss,' said the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> -Prince, 'and because I want a tress of golden hair the -like of which is not to be had on earth.'</p> - -<p>"'We don't know much about kisses,' said the rose. -'But it is pleasant to touch a young rose bud when the -winds blow us against one another. I suppose that is a -kiss.'</p> - -<p>"'Yes,' said Sturdy laughing, as he pushed the two -roses together till their red lips touched.</p> - -<p>"'Thanks,' said they. Then after a silence one of -them said, 'If I were you I would go and lie on the top -of a great cliff, and as the yellow sunlight trickles over -the stones at morning, I would catch a bit in a gold box -and shut the lid quickly and keep it. Where is a Lady -would have golden locks like that, so yellow and so -fine?'</p> - -<p>"'It is well,' cried the Prince, and so saying he went -away, sadly thinking of the kiss he might not have.</p> - -<p>"Next day the Court and the King and the Princess -were in the garden awaiting the two Princes.</p> - -<p>"First came Prince Clever who had gotten his good -looks again, and who came gaily with a hundred knights -and with slaves who bore an ivory box which held the -Princess' hair.</p> - -<p>"Next came Prince Sturdy on a great black steed, but -all alone and with only a little gold box in his hand.</p> - -<p>"When both had bent before the lady she smiled and -said, 'You are empty handed.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'No,' said Clever, and bade the slaves approach. -Then from the ivory box he took a glorious tress of the -Lady's hair.</p> - -<p>"'Is it like?' said he. 'Ah!' she cried, as she matched -it with her own long hair. 'It is the same! It was mine! -How came you by this?'</p> - -<p>"'Pardon me, Lady,' he said. 'It was I who in your -sleep yesterday stole this tress of hair. Where else is any -like it?'</p> - -<p>"'Ah!' she cried, growing pale, 'You were the Sorcerer -with the foul visage. You must have worn your -heart upon your face for once Fair Sir. But ah me!' -she continued, 'the kiss! the kiss! Did you dare to kiss -me, sir Prince?'</p> - -<p>"'I dared,' he said. 'How else could I win you?'</p> - -<p>"'Enough,' she said, and turned, pale and despairing, -to Prince Sturdy.</p> - -<p>"'Lady,' said he, 'at morning I climbed the hill and -caught in this box a tress of golden sunlight. If it be not -as like to thy hair as sun to sun I am a false knight.' -Then he opened the box beside the Lady's wealth of -hair.</p> - -<p>"'Bosh!' cried Prince Clever. 'There is nothing there,' -for the box of a truth was empty.</p> - -<p>"'True,' said Sturdy, 'It was bright this morning, but -it is darkness now beside the sunshine of my Lady's -locks.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'Well said!' cried the King, while the Princess -blushed like a whole summer of rosy peaches.</p> - -<p>"'By my beard!' cried Clever, 'He has the egg, and it -seems I am outwitted about the lock of hair. I pray you -to tell me which of us has the kiss.'</p> - -<p>"'A gift is better than a theft,' said she, and whispering -this, bent down and kissed the brow of brave Prince -Sturdy who trembled like a lily of earth in the wind of -Paradise.</p> - -<p>"But as for Prince Clever, he made a wry face and said, -'It is very warm in this place,' and so went away with his -hands in his pockets and was no more seen among men."</p> - -<hr class="sect" /> - -<p>When Fuz-buz had ended, all the little family of spiders -began to rejoice together, because of the nice story they -had heard and also because of the many more which -were yet to be told.</p> - -<p>The next afternoon as soon as ever Mrs. Grabem began -to knit, the spiders cried aloud for a story.</p> - -<p>"But I am tired," said Fuz-buz.</p> - -<p>"No matter!" cried the spiders, "we are not."</p> - -<p>"Come, no nonsense!" roared Mrs. Grabem.</p> - -<p>"Well," cried poor Fuz-buz. "Let me think a little."</p> - -<p>"I should not suppose it took much thinking to make -up stories," replied Mrs. Grabem.</p> - -<p>By this time Fuz-buz was ready and having eaten a little -cherry gum to clear his throat, he began as follows:</p> - -<p>"This is a fairy tale about</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> - -<p class="noindent ac p2"><span class="sc">Cold Country.</span></p> - -<p class="chapsum"><span class="sc">About Trowel Ku the Beaver who builds Dams. -About Kanecri the Loon who sings on the -Lakes. About Hoota the Owl who is not so -wise as he looks. About Weeska the Fox who -is just as sharp as his own nose, and that is -saying a great deal.</span></p> - -<p>"Ever so many days ago," said Fuz-buz, "and ever so -far away up among the great lakes it was always summer. -There the trees were always green and the flowers -never ceased to bloom nor the birds to sing.</p> - -<p>"The beaver built dams and no winter came to freeze -them. The owl hooted solemnly and the squirrels raced -and played and ate nuts all the year, and the foxes joked -with the big bears, and the loons sang to the stars all the -nights long, and the stars winked at the lakes, and no -one ate any one else, for every one was merry and happy, -because it was summer all the year.</p> - -<p>"But at last everything and everybody grew tired of -being so happy.</p> - -<p>"'Ah me!' said the bear, 'I get so fat it would be as -easy to roll as to walk.'</p> - -<p>"'Just so,' sighed the trees, 'what a bore to have to -make leaves all the time.'</p> - -<p>"Only the owl said, 'I'm comfortable,' and gave his -feathers a lazy shake and went to sleep again.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> - -<p>"After a while all the animals and trees and fish had a -great talk and made up their minds that it was unpleasant -to have hot weather always.</p> - -<p>"So the fox proposed that they should go in search of -cool weather, and bring back a little by way of a change.</p> - -<p>"At last they agreed to send Trowel Ku the Beaver, -and Kanecri the Loon, and Hoota the Owl, and Weeska -the Fox.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_024.jpg" id="i_024.jpg"></a> - <img src="images/i_024.jpg" width="600" height="405" - alt="Trowel Ku the Beaver, and Kanecri the Loon, and Hoota the Owl, - and Weeska the Fox." /> -</div> - -<p>"All were ready except Hoota the Owl, who said, 'I'm -comfortable. What's the use?' and fell asleep again, but -Weeska bit his toes and Kanecri the Loon sang in his -ears and at last they woke him up. 'For,' said the -Beaver, 'he looks so wise we cannot do without him.'</p> - -<p>"Therefore it was resolved that Trowel Ku the Beaver -should pull out one of his feathers every five minutes to -keep him wide awake, and having thus planned the -matter each one filled a birch bark bag with food, and the -whole party set off at daybreak.</p> - -<p>"After a long journey they came to the hut of a magician -called a Manitou, on a high hill. Here the Loon -called aloud, but no one came until the Owl mounted on -the Fox's back and knocked at the door, when a little -hunch-backed woman opened it and said, 'You can't -come in without money.'</p> - -<p>"'Ha! ha!' said the Fox and ran away into the wood, -and presently came back with a handful of green leaves -which he gave to the old woman.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'That will do,' said she, for she was blind. 'Money -must be plenty where you live. Come in.' By and by the -Manitou came home.</p> - -<p>"'What now?' said he.</p> - -<p>"'Sir,' answered Trowel Ku, the Beaver, 'I am tired -of summer and of building dams. Tell us where we can -buy a little cold to take home for a change.' 'And I,' -said the Fox, 'I find it always too hot.' 'For my part,' -cried the Loon, Kanecri, 'You have given us only summer. -Either give me fewer feathers or else a little cold. -As for the trees they are all growling about having no -rest at making leaves.'</p> - -<p>"'Then,' said Manitou to the Owl, 'What do you -want?' 'I'm comfortable,' said Hoota the Owl, and -straightway went to sleep.</p> - -<p>"'Well,' said Manitou, 'I will send you to the cold -country and you can all of you take home a bag of cold -to your friends.' Then he began to laugh, and taking a -deer-skin bade them all jump inside.</p> - -<p>"When they were all in he sewed them up and putting -the skin outside of the hut bade it go.</p> - -<p>"At once it became alive and bounded off over the -hills and through the streams until it came to a great -frozen lake.</p> - -<p>"Here the Beaver heard a noise, and presently an -arrow went through the deer which fell on the ice. The -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> -next moment a knife ripped the deer open, and the Owl -and the Beaver and Fox and Loon jumped out.</p> - -<p>"Then they saw two tall men made of icicles who gave -a cry when they saw them, dropped their knives, and -skated away over the lake.</p> - -<p>"'Dear me!' said Trowel Ku, 'This must be cold -land, let us fill our bags,' cried Weeska the Fox, 'and be -off.' 'Here is too much cold for me, I'm not comfortable,' -said Hoota the owl. 'Boo hoo how it bites my toes!'</p> - -<p>"Then they all filled their birch bags with cold, of -which there was plenty for every one lying about loose, -and set off homewards.</p> - -<p>"But after a little while they all became so cold that -their jaws chattered. By and by they saw the Manitou.</p> - -<p>"'What now?' said he.</p> - -<p>"'Too much cold,' said the Beaver. 'I think one bag -would answer,' added the Fox, 'and we could carry it by -turns.' 'I'm not comfortable,' groaned Hoota the Owl, -'my toes are frozen.' 'Suppose,' said the Loon, 'you -were to help us to carry the cold home.'</p> - -<p>"'Ho!' answered Manitou, for he was very angry. -'Begone! you wanted summer and I gave it to you, and -you had leave to take as much cold as you wanted, and -were greedy and took too much. I will warm you a -little and send your cold home too.'</p> - -<p>"Thus saying he tore the sunset out of the west and -threw it a thousand miles into their country, and lo! it fell -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> -on the trees, and some it stained yellow and some red and -some brown, which so amazed them that they let their -leaves fall in affright and horror.</p> - -<p>"Next the Manitou took up the bags of cold and threw -them after the sunset, and as they flew they broke, and -the white cold fell in little fleecy blankets on the naked -trees and on the land.</p> - -<p>"When the animals reached home there was no summer. -So the Fox Weeska ran into his den in the rocks, -and the Beaver Trowel Ku cried, 'Woe is me! the water -has become white stone,' and the Loon Kanecri sang a -song to the stars and flew up into the skies and sailed -away and away. But Hoota the Owl said, 'I'm comfortable,' -and fell fast asleep in a hollow stump."</p> - -<hr class="sect" /> - -<p>The next night Mrs. Grabem herself came along with -her little ones to hear Fuz-buz relate a tale.</p> - -<p>"Be sure it is a nice story," said one of the spiders.</p> - -<p>"For my part," cried Mrs. Grabem, "I take no interest -in stories, but it pleases me to see the youngsters amused. -You may go on while I knit, and as I have ten threads to -mend let the story be a long one."</p> - -<p>"Please ma'am," answered Fuz-buz, "I will now tell -you a story which I flatter myself is the very best one I -ever heard. It was brought by a cousin of mine from -Bagdad where he got it from a very aristocratic fly who -lived many years in the household of Sinbad the Sailor."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> - -<p class="noindent ac p2"><span class="sc">The Fountain of Youth.</span></p> - -<p>"Once upon a time there lived in Persia a great king. -He had one nephew who was to be the ruler after him, -and to have all his kingdom.</p> - -<p>"When this lad was about six years old a daughter -was born to the King. No sooner was her birth known -than the magicians foretold that she would be beautiful, -and would have blue eyes like lakes, which last was not -very hard to foretell because they were already blue, but -the magi also declared that on the day of her marriage -the King would die.</p> - -<p>"'Oh ho!' said the King, who was called Omar, 'If -this be so she shall never marry, and I shall live long and -pleasantly, and after me she shall be queen. As for my -nephew, I fear that he may wish to be king when he -grows to manhood. Therefore let him be thrown into -the sea.' Then an old Magician arose and spoke thus.</p> - -<p>"'Be careful, oh King, not to do this wicked act, or if -you greatly dread the Prince Ali give him to me, and I -will carry him far away to an island on the coast, where -he may be taught as a Prince should be, and where he may -live all his days and never know what he might have -been.'</p> - -<p>"Then said a second counsellor, 'For my part I -advise that the Princess be shut up in a palace around -whose gardens a wall shall be built, that she may grow -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> -up and see none but women, for so only can you make -sure that she will not fall in love and marry.'</p> - -<p>"'It were well,' said the King. 'Let the Magician -take the Prince as he has said.' Accordingly the next -day Prince Ali was carried to an island many miles from -the main land and lodged in a fair palace. Here he was -cared for by trusty persons who taught him all manner -of wisdom, as well as to ride and hunt and swim, so that -he grew up brave and handsome and full of goodness and -knowledge.</p> - -<p>"Meanwhile the Princess lived alone with her women -in a gleaming marble castle which looked across the sea, -and was girt about by a high wall on every side but that -bounded by the waters of the ocean.</p> - -<p>"The busy years went on and by and by the little girl -grew to be a stately woman, and the Prince a tall and -vigourous man, while the King Omar became gray and -old, and was every day more greedy to live. Each morning -he sent a slave to see how the Princess fared, and -every month he was told all about Prince Ali, and so -made sure of his constant safe keeping.</p> - -<p>"One fine morning just after a storm a strange thing -happened to the Prince. He was walking up and down -the beach and looking at the waves which were rushing -up the shore and sweeping down again with a fierce -roar, when he heard a cry of distress among the rocks -near by. In a moment he climbed towards the spot and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> -saw to his great wonder as he came near long tresses of -something like thin seaweed floating in the wind from a -rock above him. He seized it and was more amazed to find -that it was beautiful hair like his own, but of a bright -green colour. As he pulled it he heard again a cry of -pain which hastened his steps.</p> - -<p>"This hair was wonderful, for it not only fell far down -the cliff but lay on top of the rocks and across bushes, -and was strung here and there with coral and great -pearls.</p> - -<p>"When the nimble Prince had traced it some thirty -feet it led him to a deep hollow between two rocks. Into -this he descended. As he reached the bottom what -should he see but a little old woman, with fins for hands -and a long scaly tail like that of a fish. She was such a -comical little old lady that the Prince sat down and -laughed for five minutes. He ceased his mirth, however, -when the old creature waved her fins in a helpless way -and groaned aloud.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_030.jpg" id="i_030.jpg"></a> - <img src="images/i_030.jpg" width="413" height="600" - alt="The old creature waved her fins in a helpless way." /> -</div> - -<p>"'What can I do for you Mrs. Woman-fish?' said he, -'and how came you here?'</p> - -<p>"'My dear,' said she, 'I am, as you see, a mermaid. I -happened to come on shore last night just to do a little -knitting by the light of the moon, when up came a big -storm, and the waves gave me a great toss over these -rocks and into this hole. But the worst of it is I have -lost my spectacles, and my poor back is nearly broken, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> -and one fin's out of joint, and I've lost a knitting-needle -and my back comb. Now if you would kindly carry me -to the edge of the rocks and throw me in, I think I could -reach home, but, as you may notice, I don't get along -very well upon land.'</p> - -<p>"The Prince was too good-natured to refuse, so he -lifted her carefully, and drawing her long hair after him -climbed with his queer load to the top of the cliff. Here -he gave her a mighty cast, and away she went fifty feet -down into the sea with her green hair sailing after her. -The moment she felt the water she rolled over and -kissing her fin to Prince Ali sculled away as cleverly as -could be.</p> - -<p>"The Prince said nothing about this adventure, but -felt sorry that he had not asked her some questions, for -you must know that whenever he asked questions of the -people who waited on him, and taught him, they were -very apt to say, 'Oh don't bother me! I'm busy,' so that -there were many things which he desired to learn and -could not.</p> - -<p>"From this day forward he spent all of his time upon -the shore and among the rocks. At last one evening he -saw a large white crested wave rolling in, and on a sudden -out of it paddled the mermaid. She sculled up the -sand and rolling over on her back said to the Prince, 'My -dear I can never thank you enough. If the doctors had -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> -been quicker about getting my flapper well I should have -been here long ago.'</p> - -<p>"'You are most welcome,' returned Ali, 'and the more -so because perhaps you can tell me who I am.'</p> - -<p>"'Sir!' said she, 'You are a King's son. Your -parents are dead, and your uncle has put you here for -fear that you may wish to take the kingdom away from -his daughter the Princess Jessalie who is the most beautiful -woman in the world. She also is a prisoner within -the gardens of her Palace because it has been foretold -that whenever she marries, her Father the King will die.'</p> - -<p>"'Would that I could see her!' said the Prince.</p> - -<p>"'Sir!' replied the mermaid, 'to-morrow I will bring -you her picture, and meanwhile here are some trifles -which my children have sent you as tokens of their -gratitude.'</p> - -<p>"Thus saying she shook her head and a double handful -of pearls fell from her hair and dropped at the feet of the -Prince, after which the mermaid tumbled into the water -and swam deftly away.</p> - -<p>"The next morning early Ali went to the beach and -found the mermaid waiting with a large piece of crystal -in her flappers.</p> - -<p>"'Prince,' she said, 'Yesterday the Princess Jessalie -chanced to look into a small pool of water on the shore -where she walks. As quick as could be I enchanted the -pool and turned it into a crystal mirror, so that the face -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> -of the Princess is fixed upon it forever. Look, I have -brought it away with me.'</p> - -<p>"At once the Prince regarded the mirror, and this was -what he saw in it. Calm lazy eyes of blue, and below them -cheeks dimpled and rosy, and twin lips which made you -jealous of each, because ever they kissed one the other, -and brown hair which must have fallen down about this -face as it looked into the pool of water, and blue around -it all, the heavens which spread above her as she had -bent to gaze at her own fairness.</p> - -<p>"'Ah!' said Ali, 'This is my fate! Take me to this -woman swiftly that I may see her and die contented.'</p> - -<p>"'Not so,' said the mermaid, 'be guided by me and in -time you shall marry her. Give me a message and I will -carry it to the Princess, but as yet she must not know -your name, or it might be that the King hearing it would -put you to death. Speak your message to this shell and -I will answer for the rest.'</p> - -<p>"Thus saying she pointed to a white shell which lay -on the beach. The Prince took it up, and laughing, -whispered a few words in its curled lip, and then as the -mermaid bade him threw it far out into the sea.</p> - -<p>"'Now,' said the mermaid, 'If you tell a lady once -that you love her she laughs. If you tell her twice she is -angry, but when you have ten times said 'I love,' she -will either hate or love you, or perhaps may hate and -love by turns, each for five minutes as sometimes doth -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span> -chance. Now, therefore, many times you must say to -her I love you.'</p> - -<p>"'But <i>how</i> shall I do this?' asked Prince Ali.</p> - -<p>"'Sir,' she said, 'look upwards and clap your hands -thrice.'</p> - -<p>"Without further words the young man did as he was -told, when instantly a great white swan descended from -a vast height and alighted on the water's edge beside -them. The mermaid at once began to dig in the sand, -and presently found a large oyster shell which she desired -Ali to open. As he did so a necklace of pearls fell out, -the like of which no jeweller ever saw before or since.</p> - -<p>"'Now!' said the mermaid, 'hang this on the swan's -neck for a present to the Princess, and with thy finger -write on the bird's breast a message.'</p> - -<p>"The Prince was lost in wonder, but without hesitation -he traced a few rapid letters on the white breast of -the swan. As he wrote, the feathers where he touched -them grew scarlet, so that you might read in red letters -'I love thee,' marked on the snowy whiteness of the -swan's bosom.</p> - -<p>"Scarcely had he made an end of this short letter of -love when the swan rose in swift flight until she was no -longer to be seen by the amazed Prince, who turned to -look at the mermaid, though only to find that she too had -vanished. Then in still greater wonder Ali walked -homeward along the water's edge.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Thus many days went by and brought no change, -for ever the west winds blew, and ever the waves climbed -the shore and laid soft cheeks on the sands and whispered, -and went backward moaning again.</p> - -<p>"This sadness pleased the Prince who lay on the rocks -all day and heard the sobbing waters, and looked wearily -over the wide green ocean fields where the bubble-crested -foam came and went from sight like the white clover -blossoms which swayed amid their fields of green, when -the wind leaped across the rocks and took its pleasure -inland.</p> - -<p>"One of these days the Princess walked on the shore -with her women, when the youngest of them said, 'What -a lovely shell!' 'Let me hear what it says,' cried the -Princess; but no sooner had she put it to her ear than the -shell murmured softly, '<span class="sc">I love you</span>.'</p> - -<p>"'Ah!' said the Princess Jessalie to the oldest of her -ladies, 'This shell sings to me words new and strange. -Tell me I pray you what is <span class="sc">love</span>?'</p> - -<p>"She had scarcely finished when all the old ladies held -up their hands in horror, for this and all other such words -were forbidden within the Palace bounds. The more -they made faces and signs at her the more the Princess -wished to know. So she kept saying continually, 'What -is love? I will know what is love.'</p> - -<p>"But no one answered, and some of the old ladies -cried, and some ran away, for they all feared that King -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> -Omar would strangle them because the Princess had -heard the forbidden word, and because no one of them -knew but that presently she would say, 'what is a man?' -or some other such dreadful words.</p> - -<p>"When at length the Princess found herself alone with -her governess, she said again, 'What is love?'</p> - -<p>"'My dear child,' replied the old lady, 'it is a kind of -medicine!'</p> - -<p>"'Ah!' cried the Princess, 'Then I see why the ladies -made faces when I spoke of it. I suppose they had -all taken a dose. But it sounds very pleasant,' she -added, and all day long she went about with the shell at -her ear.</p> - -<p>"The next morning the shell was gone, for the ladies -had taken it away so that they might prevent further mischief -by hiding this wonderful shell. But before they -concealed it they listened to hear it say 'I love you.' No -one listened twice, and they all said the shell was an ill-bred -shell and had no manners, though what it said to -them I know not, perhaps something true but not pleasant.</p> - -<p>"The next day while walking in the garden the Princess -asked eagerly about her singing shell. While everybody -pretended to look for it a whirring noise was heard -and a fluttering of white wings was seen as the swan lit -at the feet of the lady and shook the pearl necklace into -her lap.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'Oh marvellous!' cried the Princess, 'come quickly -look at this! see what pearls! and Mahomet preserve us! -Bismillah! Here is the name of that medicine again, -written in scarlet on the breast of this beautiful swan, '<span class="sc">I -love thee</span>.'</p> - -<p>"No sooner had the old ladies seen these fatal words -than they rushed at the bird and beat it so cruelly that it -had hard work to get away even with the help of the -Princess herself.</p> - -<p>"This time she was so urgent to be told more, and so -eager in her questions, that the matter came to the quick -ears of the King Omar her father. At once the guards -around her Palace gardens were doubled. Twelve old -ladies were set to work to gather up all the shells along -shore, while twelve more were ordered to keep strict -watch lest any other messages of love should come to the -fair Jessalie.</p> - -<p>"Meantime none knew whence came these strange -words, and the King grew more and more angry and -alarmed whenever he thought about it.</p> - -<p>"All his precautions were in vain. One fine morning -every rose-leaf in the gardens had written upon it in -golden Arabic letters, '<span class="sc">I love you</span>.'</p> - -<p>"This drove the King wild, and he commanded all -the rose-bushes in the kingdom to be cut down, which -was instantly done.</p> - -<p>"The next morrow at day-break a great noise was -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> -heard, and when the Princess arose and peeped from her -window every bird in the garden was singing, '<span class="sc">I love -you</span>, <span class="sc">I love you</span>, <span class="sc">I love you</span>.'</p> - -<p>"This time the King ordered the Princess to be shut -up in the Palace. Then the birds were driven away and -a great silken net hung over the garden so that the voice -of the birds might no more be heard singing this sweet -treason among the flowers.</p> - -<p>"Very soon, however, the Princess became so weary of -her Palace that she fell ill, and no one dared to tell the -King that all night long in dreams she whispered, '<span class="sc">I love -you</span>, <span class="sc">I love you</span>.'</p> - -<p>"Far and near the King sought counsel of all manner -of wise men and doctors, but no one would venture to -order medicine for the Princess without seeing her, and -as to a man doing that, it was out of the question.</p> - -<p>"About this time the mermaid, who I need not say was -the merrymaker of all this mischief, met the Prince on -the beach one evening and thus addressed him.</p> - -<p>"'The Princess whom you love is ill, because she has -not found out who it is that is ever saying through the -shells and the birds and the flowers, "I love you." Take -therefore this mirror, write on it a letter with your finger -tip, and I will see that it reaches the Princess.'</p> - -<p>"The Prince gladly followed these directions, for -though when he had traced words on the glass he could -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> -see nothing of them, he felt sure of the mermaid's power -to help him.</p> - -<p>"When he had ended she took the mirror, and carrying -it all the way above the waves hastened to the main-land. -When she came to the shore she put on a long -petticoat to hide her scaly fish tail, and drawing her fins -through the sleeves of a gown, mounted up on a pair of -crutches and hobbled with great labour to the Palace of -King Omar. Here she told the guard to let the King -know that a lame doctoress who had come from a far -country was waiting to cure the Princess.</p> - -<p>"So soon as ever the King heard this he ordered her -to be admitted. When he set eyes upon her odd figure -he cried out,</p> - -<p>"'Quick! old woman speak! and that shortly! If you -can cure my daughter say so.'</p> - -<p>"'Oh King!' she answered, 'Let the lady look into this -mirror, but see that no one touches it on the way. Let -the Princess breathe upon it as she looks, and if it does -not cure her throw me into the sea without mercy.'</p> - -<p>"'Well said!' cried the King. 'It shall be as you -desire. Let the mirror be carried to the Princess.'</p> - -<p>"Accordingly that evening the crystal was taken to the -Palace with every care and given to Jessalie.</p> - -<p>"'You have but to breathe on it,' said her Governess, -'and you will be well.'</p> - -<p>"'Give it to me,' she said, and instantly blew a breath -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> -upon its polished surface. As she did so, to her great -amazement she read these words which seemed to come -into view on the glass as her breathing moistened it, '<span class="sc">I -love you</span>. <span class="sc">I, the Prince Ali your Cousin, I love -you.</span>'</p> - -<p>"As her breath faded from the glass the words fled -from sight, but the Princess fell back murmuring, 'My -cousin Ali, he loves me.'</p> - -<p>"Then there was confusion. The ladies tore their -hair and screamed aloud, and the slaves beat their breasts, -while the Princess fainted away. In a moment the news -came to the King that his daughter had no sooner seen -the mirror than she had called aloud the name of her -cousin and fainted.</p> - -<p>"'Allah!' muttered the King, 'Well said the poet, "A -daughter is an aching tooth, and he who doth not beat -his child shall one day strike his knees in vain." Let this -old hag of a doctor be cast into the sea,' he added, 'and let -the captain of the guard take ship speedily and slay this -nephew of mine whom I did ill to spare so long.'</p> - -<p>"Accordingly the mermaid was taken to the rocks and -thrown a hundred feet down into the waves, where she -laughed a little, and kicking off her petticoats swam away -merrily to see the Prince, for whose safety she had great -fears.</p> - -<p>"Just as she reached the island she saw the Prince -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> -standing on a rock and bravely defending himself against -the guard of the King.</p> - -<p>"As quick as could be the mermaid called to him to -leap off of the rocks into the sea, for although he had -killed at least a dozen of his foes he was faint and sorely -pressed. When he heard her call he smote the captain -of the guard a fierce blow, and bounding up the rocks -hesitated an instant, and then leaped boldly into the foaming -waters at their feet.</p> - -<p>"For a moment he felt his strength fail, then he saw a -thousand colours before his eyes, then a gray mist came -over them, and after that darkness, until he awakened as -from a dream of death.</p> - -<p>"When he became conscious, he was under the water -seated at the foot of a vast tree of coral. About him was -a forest of like trees, hung with huge pearls and covered -with sea-weed of many tints, among which great fish -and nameless ocean beasts floated lazily to and fro.</p> - -<p>"'Come,' said the mermaid, 'You are now a son of -the sea. Let us go.'</p> - -<p>"Upon this he arose and in a great maze of wonder -walked along, while the mermaid swam easily by his -side. Sometimes they passed huge heaps of amber, and -sometimes turned aside from the wrecks of mighty ships, -or else trode through caverns whose sand was gold dust -and gleaming jewels, till at length they came to a vast -wall of rock.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Here the mermaid knocked and a door opened and -let them into a mighty hall builded throughout of the -purest jasper.</p> - -<p>"But what the Prince saw here no one will ever know, -for here the mermen and mermaids lived, and here they -made the Prince so welcome that he would never have -wished for earth again if the Princess whom he loved had -only been with him.</p> - -<p>"Meanwhile King Omar felt himself growing old and -feeble, but the nearer he came to death the more he desired -to live. Then there came into his head a cunning -way to cheat the Angel of Death. He therefore summoned -his counsel and spake to them thus,</p> - -<p>"'It has been foretold that I shall die when my daughter -marries. Now let proclamation be made that whosoever -shall bring to me a cup of water from the fountain of -youth shall have the Princess for his wife. So shall I -drink of the water and become young again, and that -which was to kill me shall bring me life.'</p> - -<p>"Then there was silence awhile till at last an aged -Mufti arose.</p> - -<p>"'Oh King!' said he, 'Beware how you resist the -words of fate. Is it so easy to live rightly that you would -crave for more of life? He who lengthens the life of -this world makes shorter the life of the world to come. -Beware!'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'Fool!' said the King, 'thou art ten years younger -than I. Let it be as I have said.'</p> - -<p>"Soon after this the mermaid said to Ali, 'It is time -Prince that you left us. The King desires a cup of the -fountain of youth, and to him who brings it he will give -the Princess. Therefore have no fear, but take thy sword -and this crystal flask, and passing through yonder gateway -journey on until you reach a deep valley, at the bottom of -which you will find the fountain. Drink none, but fill -your flask and hasten to the King without pause or fear.'</p> - -<p>"With this counsel the Prince took his sword, and -tying the flask about his neck set out. As he stepped -through the gate-way of amber he looked up and saw -above him the splendid blue of the deep sea like one vast -quiet sapphire. Before him a gradual slope led downwards -over rocks and sea grasses which at last ceased, -and he came upon a floor of sand whiter than the purest -snow.</p> - -<p>"As the descent ended he saw in front of him a majestic -angel of vast height. Her foot rested on a marble -skull of huge proportions, and upon her brow was written -<i>Azrael</i>.</p> - -<div class="figcenter"><a name="i_044.jpg" id="i_044.jpg"></a> - <img src="images/i_044.jpg" width="405" height="600" - alt="A majestic angel of vast height." /> -</div> - -<p>"For a moment the Prince paused in dread; then he -took courage and said humbly,</p> - -<p>"'Is this the fountain of youth?' As he ceased the -angel murmured, '<i>Out of death cometh all life</i>,' and -solemnly struck the skull with her wand. Instantly a -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> -purple liquid gushed from under the skull and floated in -slow spirals upward through the still water.</p> - -<p>"With a bound the Prince knelt at the skull, filled his -flask and turned away in haste, for already the purple -color was tinting the whole sea about him, and he -remembered well the mermaid's warning.</p> - -<p>"Three days after this Ali reached the court of King -Omar. To his great joy he found the court sitting, and -the King on his throne.</p> - -<p>"So splendid was Prince Ali's dress and so noble his -air that no one stopped him, and he entered freely and -unquestioned. Before him sat the King his uncle. He -was very old, but still vigourous enough to live for many -years beyond the common span of human life.</p> - -<p>"Ali listened while the Muftis read aloud the promise -of the King that whosoever brought the cup of water -from the fountain of youth should marry the Princess -Jessalie.</p> - -<p>"No sooner had they ended than Ali bowed before the -throne.</p> - -<p>"'Oh King!' said he, 'I am the Prince Ali, thy nephew, -whom you would have slain. I have brought to -you here a cup of the water of the fountain of youth, -Drink, but read first what words have come on the flask -since I filled it at the fountain. Drink then if you will, -and give me the Princess, for by my sword this is water -of the fountain of youth and none other.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'Ha!' said the King, 'Give it to me!' and tottering he -arose and descending a few steps seized the flask. Then -he tore from it the silver cover with which the Prince had -sealed it.</p> - -<p>"At once a dense purple vapour rose in clouds from the -lip of the flask and curled upwards through the hall. -Whosoever breathed of this his eyes flashed and he -dreamed of mornings long ago, and of fair women and of -boyhood, so that all who felt it stood bewildered.</p> - -<p>"Then cried the King, 'I drink to youth!' and would -have drained the flask, but Ali held his hand and bade -him read the words which were graven upon the vessel.</p> - -<p>'"It is but a moment to wait for youth,' cried the -King, and turning to a magician bade him read the -words, 'For,' said he, 'I am old and my sight fails me.'</p> - -<p>"'Oh my master!' said the magician, 'these are the -words:</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> - <div class="poetry"> - <div class="verse">"'He who steals to-morrows</div> - <div class="verse">Shall drink the wine of sorrows.'"</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p>"Then the aged counsellor fell back with an altered -face as he breathed the purple fumes, 'Woe is me! I am -stronger! I am grown younger! Woe is me! I am further -from Allah.'</p> - -<p>"But the King, saying no word, set the flask to his lips -and drained it to the utmost drop. Then with a cry of -delight he threw the vessel away, and shouting aloud, 'I -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> -am young again!' bounded up the steps and pausing -faced the mutely wondering crowd.</p> - -<p>"When he turned he was seen as a man in the lusty -vigour of life, stalwart and strong of limb.</p> - -<p>"'Ho!' he said, 'my guard!' but none stirred, for his -face was still changing, and now his beard was gone, and -it was a lad who sat upon the throne, and a lad's voice -which cried aloud.</p> - -<p>"'This man to the dungeons! What ho! my guard!' -And yet they moved not, for the lad was now a child.</p> - -<p>"Still the stern will worked, and the child-King said -faintly, 'My guards! my guards!' till his voice broke into -baby lispings, and now it was an infant who sat upon -the throne.</p> - -<p>"Then the changes seemed to cease, and the ancient -counsellor who had so wisely warned the King cried aloud, -'Allah il Allah! great and wonderful are thy ways!'</p> - -<p>"When one man had thus broken silence a mighty -tumult arose, amidst which the baby King looked right -and left with blue eyes of wonder.</p> - -<p>"But Ali drew his sword and in a terrible voice -ordered the guard to clear the hall. Instantly he was -obeyed, and then there was great counsel held as to what -should be done with the King. At length it was decided -that he should be sent to the island where Ali had lived, -and be kept there all his days. These indeed proved few, -for it is recorded in the chronicles of the kingdom that he -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> -took teething rather hard, and died in his second summer -of malignant whooping-cough.</p> - -<p>"As to Prince Ali he married his cousin the Princess -Jessalie, and the mermen and the mermaids came to the -wedding and brought with them for presents pearls and -amber and tortoise shells such as folks never see now-a-days.</p> - -<p>"They lived long together, and loved one another well, -and they both died at one and the same moment, which -was the happiest thing of all their happy lives."</p> - -<hr class="sect" /> - -<p>The sun was not yet down on the next evening when -the young spiders began to collect around Fuz-buz.</p> - -<p>"Tell us," said one of them, "a story about giants."</p> - -<p>"There's a jolly idea," cried another. "Is it to be a -spider giant?"</p> - -<p>"Ahem!" replied Fuz-buz. "I wish there were such -giants, and I wish one of them would come along this -very moment and gobble you all up."</p> - -<p>This he said in so fierce a voice that the young spiders -ran away squealing so loud that if you had been a spider -and had owned an ear-trumpet, you might have heard -them at least three inches off.</p> - -<p>As for Mrs. Grabem she hurried in a rage to Fuz-Buz, -and gave him a shake, saying, "Have a care old rascal, -how you scare my young ones. Tell them a story at -once, or you shall never tell another on this earth."</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Yes, madam," answered Fuz-buz very meekly, and as -soon as ever he could get his breath he began as follows, -to tell them the story of Krusstikuss and Growlegrum.</p> - - -<p class="noindent ac p2"><span class="sc">Krusstikuss and Growlegrum.</span></p> - -<p>"There have been many giants I believe, but there -never were any others like the great giant Growlegrum -and his twin brother Krusstikuss.</p> - -<p>"These two giants were both of them Ogres. Their -mother was an Afrite, and their grandfather a Ghoul. -On which account they were probably the most unpleasant -giants that anybody ever came across.</p> - -<p>"When very young they were tall and stout, but one -day unluckily for Krusstikuss, his grandmother, who was -a fat giantess, sat down on him.</p> - -<p>"Not feeling anything in particular she fell asleep and -did not awaken for three months.</p> - -<p>"Of course it was hard for Krusstikuss to grow while -his grandmother sat upon him, so he began to spread out -sideways and never afterwards got out of the habit. He -therefore became as fat as a bun, while his brother Growlegrum -grew as tall as the highest tree.</p> - -<p>"So one was tall, and one stout, but both were of the -same size in wickedness, and as to Krusstikuss he liked -to eat babies, while Growlegrum was fond of young -ladies, although their hoops sometimes disagreed with -him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> - -<p>"When these monsters grew up they ate so many -people that their father told them they would cause a -famine, and must go away and find another land where -people were more plenty.</p> - -<p>"At last they took his advice and started out together -to seek a new home. After eating a great many folks -they came to a beautiful country where lived a King who -had a daughter as good as she was pretty.</p> - -<p>"When the two giants reached the borders of this land -they sat down and began to talk.</p> - -<p>"'I am getting so big,' said Krusstikuss, 'that I find -it a labour to walk about and look for babies. They must -be very scarce.'</p> - -<p>"'Not more so than young ladies,' cried Growlegrum. -'I should think they would like to be eaten before -they grow to be old and ugly, but really it does not seem -so.'</p> - -<p>"While they were thus lamenting the scarcity of food, -an old woman with a red cap and a green kirtle came -from the wood and stood before them.</p> - -<p>"'Sirs,' said she, 'I am a cousin of yours, and also a -witch. Why should you be troubled about your meals? -Order the King Hassan to send hither twice every day -ten fat babies and one young lady.'</p> - -<p>"'Good,' said the giants, 'we can lie on these hills and -eat and sleep without labour. So let it be. Go you to -King Hassan and tell him to send us the babies and the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> -young ladies without fail, or else we will eat him and fry -him first.'</p> - -<p>"This made the old witch chuckle, and she went away -quickly towards the city with her wicked news. Presently -she entered the Palace, for she was a cousin of the -King, and went straight to the garden where she told -King Hassan that the two giants were on the borders of -his country, and must have ten babies and a young lady -twice a day or else they would eat the King and fry him -first, which made Hassan feel hot all over.</p> - -<p>"He soon saw that he could do nothing against such -vast monsters, and therefore beat his breast and ordered -his captains to take to the giants the babies and the young -ladies.</p> - -<p>"You may be sure that when this happened twice a -day for a week folks began to be very much troubled. -By and by the mammas hid away the babies in tree-tops -and chimnies and in all sorts of out of the way places. -And as to young ladies there were none to be found, for -every one of them put on her brother's pantaloons, and -it was hard work to catch a woman at all.</p> - -<p>"It chanced about this time that the Princess was -walking in a wood near the Palace when she saw a -young girl crying. Now as the Princess was very kind-hearted -she stopped at once and said,</p> - -<p>"'Why do you cry? What ails you?'</p> - -<p>"'Oh dear!' said the other, 'to-morrow I am to be -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> -taken by the guard to be eaten by the Ogres, Growlegrum -and Krusstikuss, and when I am gone who will comfort -my old mother, for she has no child but me?'</p> - -<p>"When the Princess heard this she told her to wait a -little, and went herself to find the King.</p> - -<p>"'Father,' said she, 'it is hard that all the young girls -should be eaten alive by these false giants. Why do not -you raise an army and go and fight and kill them? It is -base to give up to them in this way. Were I a man I -would slay them myself.'</p> - -<p>"'It would be in vain to try,' answered the King. -'Well,' said the Princess, 'to-morrow I shall go alone in -place of the maiden who is chosen, and perhaps some good -knight will not willingly let me die so mean a death.'</p> - -<p>"The King was very angry, but the Princess was -obstinate. Then a young Prince who was present arose -and said,</p> - -<p>"'I have come, lady, a thousand miles to help you. -My name is Prince Bluets, and I am the great-grandson -of John, who is sometimes called Jack, the Giant Killer. -Go to the giants as you have said and all will yet be well.'</p> - -<p>"Then the Princess looked and saw that the Prince -had brave eyes and was fair of face, so she replied,</p> - -<p>"'It shall be as you say.'</p> - -<p>"'To-morrow, then,' continued the Prince, 'you shall -go to the giants and I will follow you. But first take -this amulet and hang it around your neck. So long as -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> -you wear it all things living and dead will love you, and -no giant will wish to eat you.'</p> - -<p>"Thus saying he hung around her neck a gold chain, -and at once she went away and ordered her horse to ride -to the giants. Meanwhile it was proclaimed that out of -love for her people the Princess was going to beg the -giants to go away and not to eat any more babies.</p> - -<p>"As for the Princess, she sent word to the little maiden -in the wood that she was going in her place, and then -bravely mounted her horse and rode through the town to -the gate.</p> - -<p>"No sooner did the people see her than they began to -follow her, because the amulet made every one wish to -be near to her. But at the gate she bade them return, -and rode away alone into the wood, though even there -the charm still worked, and all things loved her more and -more. The sun stared her in the eyes like a gallant over-bold, -and the wind played with her chestnut hair and was -happy, and the leaves bent down and kissed her, and all -the mice and the birds and the bears and the foxes came -out and followed her.</p> - -<p>"But when she came near to the two Ogres and saw -them sitting on a hill with their white eyes and rough -faces and great black teeth like marble tombstones, all -the animals set up a dismal howl and ran away. Yet -still the lady rode along, and presently the two giants -became aware of her presence.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Then said Growlegrum, 'Here comes dinner,' but -when she drew nearer he added, 'She's too pretty to eat. -Who are you my dear?'</p> - -<p>"'I am the Princess Violet,' said she, 'the King's -daughter.'</p> - -<p>"'Hah!' said both of the Ogres, 'You shall be my -wife.'</p> - -<p>"'Well,' cried she, 'I cannot have two husbands; put -me in a safe place and after I have known you both for a -month I can decide which I will have for my husband.'</p> - -<p>"'Good,' returned Krusstikuss, 'So let it be.' Then -they lifted her gently and put her near by in a castle -whose owner they had devoured, and every day they -brought her goodies to eat, enough for twenty dinners.</p> - -<p>"In the morning came Growlegrum and looked over -the castle wall and said, 'I love you my dear.' But in -the afternoons came Krusstikuss and said, 'Bless me! how -I love you!' Now the Princess knew that within a month -she should hear of Prince Bluets.</p> - -<p>"As for that Prince he went away to a magician and -asked him how he could become thin.</p> - -<p>"'There are four ways,' answered the magician,</p> - -<div class="poetry-container"> - <div class="poetry"> - <div class="verse">'Eat nothing,</div> - <div class="verse">'Fall in love,</div> - <div class="verse">'Become jealous, and</div> - <div class="verse">'Think ever so much.'</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p>"Then said the Prince, 'The advice is good,' and so -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> -saying he gave him three links of a gold chain which he -wore, and mounted his horse and rode swiftly until he -came to a high hill which at a great distance overlooked -the castle where the lady was. Here he sat down and -with his spy-glass looked until he saw Krusstikuss kissing -his great hand to the lady.</p> - -<p>"This made him horribly jealous, and at once he began -to get thin. Then for four days he ate nothing and so -became thinner and thinner. Of course he was miserably -in love, and this also made him lose flesh.</p> - -<p>"After four days he was still too fat, so he began to -think of all the hard conundrums and riddles and charades -that ever were heard of, but at last when he had been two -days thinking how to make apple pies out of donkies he -became so thin that his bones were no thicker than walking -sticks, and when he stood sideways he had no shadow -at all.</p> - -<p>"Then he took his sword and walking carefully for -fear of breaking into halves or of being blown away, -he descended the hill, and late at night knocked at a -side door of the castle where the Princess Violet now -lived.</p> - -<p>"As soon as she heard the noise she came to the door -and said,</p> - -<p>"'Who is it?'</p> - -<p>"'It is I,' answered the Prince, but his voice was so -thin that he could hardly be heard, and if the Princess -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> -had not loved him she never would have been able to -hear a word he said.</p> - -<p>"'My love,' he cried, 'It is I, Prince Bluets. Presently -I shall squeeze my head through the key-hole, and -you must then seize me by the hair and drag me in.'</p> - -<p>"Of course giants' castles have very large key-holes, -and as the Prince was as thin as could be he easily pushed -his head through the key-hole, when the Princess took -hold of his hair, and pretty soon drew him into the castle.</p> - -<p>"She was very much amazed when she saw him so -lean and meagre, but the Prince explained it all and -they sat down and had a good talk until morning, when -the Prince hid away in a corner under some hay.</p> - -<p>"By and by came Krusstikuss, and looking over the -castle wall said in a large voice, 'I love you my dear. -Here are some nice little dishes for breakfast!' and so -saying, he emptied his pockets of about two wagon loads -of cakes and candy and bon-bons and all kind of goodies -such as Princesses eat.</p> - -<p>"'Sir,' said the Princess, 'If I am to be a giant's wife, -I must learn to eat babies. If you love me you will bring -me all the babies you get, that I may keep them until -they get so fat and tender that I shall be tempted to eat -them.'</p> - -<p>"'But what shall I live on myself?' cried Krusstikuss.</p> - -<p>"'Oh!' said the Princess, 'if you are in love you will -not care to eat.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'That's queer,' returned the giant, 'but I suppose it -won't hurt me to suck my paws for awhile like the -bears.'</p> - -<p>"Then he took four babies out of his hat and two out -of his pockets, saying, 'I am sorry, but I ate four on the -way. To-morrow you shall have all, and when you get -them fat enough I will come and dine with you.'</p> - -<p>"After this he went away leaving the babies to the -Princess, who put them all in a row and fed them with -nine dough-nuts apiece, so that if they did not get fat it -was not her fault.</p> - -<p>"In the afternoon came Growlegrum, who was as big -in length as Krusstikuss was sideways.</p> - -<p>"'My love,' said he, when he had peeped over the -wall, 'What's this? Babies.'</p> - -<p>"'Sir,' she replied, 'Your brother loves me, and has -promised me all the babies, that I may fatten them. If -you also love me at all, you will give me the young -ladies you were to eat every day, that I may have some -one to take care of the babies and feed them.'</p> - -<p>"'Ah me!' said the giant, 'I shall die of starvation.'</p> - -<p>"'Don't, if you love me,' said Violet.</p> - -<p>"'Enough,' cried Growlegrum. 'Here lovely Princess -is the first, and every day you shall have another.'</p> - -<p>"So saying, he jerked a beautiful young lady out of his -pocket and set her down inside of the castle.</p> - -<div class="figcenter bord"><a name="i_056.jpg" id="i_056.jpg"></a> - <img src="images/i_056.jpg" width="600" height="406" - alt="He jerked a beautiful young lady out of his - pocket and set her down inside of the castle." /> -</div> - -<p>"'Good-bye,' said the Princess.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'Good-bye,' said the giant, 'If I stay I shall steal a -baby.'</p> - -<p>"So he gnashed his ugly grim teeth and walked away -with vast steps.</p> - -<p>"When he was out of sight Prince Bluets came forth, -and the Princess and he laughed with joy, because of the -babies whom they had saved. But as there was no time -to lose the Prince kissed her and wriggled through the -key-hole again.</p> - -<p>"Then in haste he ran into the woods and took the -road which led to the city where King Hassan lived.</p> - -<p>"On the way he heard voices, and climbing a tree he -listened eagerly until he learned that these came from five -persons who were dressed in long robes and were riding -from the town. By good luck they rested a little while -just under the tree in which Bluets lay hidden. He soon -understood that all five were lawyers whom the King had -sent to see Krusstikuss, that they might offer the Princess -in marriage to him with half of the kingdom if he would -send his brother away, and learn to eat beef and mutton in -place of babies.</p> - -<p>"'Ho!' said the Prince, 'This won't do,' so he waited -till they left, and then descending ran back to the castle -and called the Princess.</p> - -<p>"Then through the key-hole he gave her a little advice -about the five lawyers. After this he went away once -more towards the city.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> - -<p>"As for the Princess she waved her handkerchief from -the castle wall until Growlegrum espied her and strode -over the hills and valleys to the castle.</p> - -<p>"'Sir,' she said, 'Do not be surprised if you see a -party of men in gowns coming from the city. Go and -meet them, if they think you are Krusstikuss they will -tell you something.'</p> - -<p>"'Good,' answered he. 'Now I perceive that you -love me.'</p> - -<p>"Then, without waiting, he walked towards the city. -A little way on he met the five lawyers. As soon as they -saw him they dismounted and threw themselves on the -ground.</p> - -<p>"'What do ye want?' roared Growlegrum.</p> - -<p>"'Oh sir!' said they, 'we would see the great giant -Krusstikuss.'</p> - -<p>"'It is well,' returned the giant. 'Speak.'</p> - -<p>"'Sir,' said they, 'We come to offer to the great giant -Krusstikuss one-half of the kingdom and the Princess for -a wife.'</p> - -<p>"'Ha!' answered the giant, 'and what shall his brother -have?'</p> - -<p>"'Perhaps,' returned one of the lawyers, 'he might be -persuaded to leave, or else your highness could quietly -knock him on the head.'</p> - -<p>"'Scoundrels!' roared Growlegrum, 'My name is not -Krusstikuss. I'll teach you to make trouble, you rascals.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Upon this he seized them one after another, and ate -the whole five. The effects of this meal were dreadful. -In five minutes Growlegrum was bent double with -stomach-ache, for you see the lawyers disagreed with him, -and they also disagreed with one another inside of him.</p> - -<p>"But this was not all, for in a few moments he began -to grow so quarrelsome that he became the most unsafe -giant that could anywhere be found.</p> - -<p>"In half an hour he was outrageous, and by the time -he met his brother he was ready to fight anybody.</p> - -<p>"Well the end of it was they did fight. They fought -for two days and two nights, when Krusstikuss got so -weak that Growlegrum took him up by the heels and -stood him on his head and gave him a mighty spin, for -he was made just like a top, and then, while he was -spinning, treated him to a kick, and hoisted him over two -hills into the sea, where he spun to the bottom and never -more was heard of.</p> - -<p>"When this awful battle was over Growlegrum sat on -a hill and began to pick his teeth with a fence rail. Meanwhile -Prince Bluets hastened to the city.</p> - -<p>"He had gone but a little way when who should he see -but his great-great-grandfather Jack, the Giant Killer, -who had journeyed a long way to see what had become -of Bluets. After they had embraced one another, the -Prince told his grandfather all that had passed.</p> - -<p>"'You have done well,' said Jack, 'but we must now -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> -get rid of this other giant who I hear is a terrible fellow. -Let us go and see him.'</p> - -<p>"'Very well,' replied Bluets, 'We will go,' and so -saying they turned, and very soon spied Growlegrum sitting -on the hill. As soon as ever he saw them he roared -out,</p> - -<p>"'Dinner! Here comes my dinner!'</p> - -<p>"When they had come still nearer Jack cried aloud, 'I -am Jack, the Giant Killer, and I have come to visit you.'</p> - -<p>"'Ha, ha!' laughed the giant, 'You are a little man -and brave.' 'There is one thing you cannot do, big -though you be,' said Jack.</p> - -<p>"'Name it,' said Growlegrum. 'I can pull up trees -and kick down towns and chew cannon balls and eat you. -What is there I cannot do?'</p> - -<p>"'Sir,' answered Jack, 'All these things are easy.' 'If -I cannot eat anything and kill anybody I will quit this -land and go home,' said the giant in a rage.</p> - -<p>"'Good!' cried Jack, 'Come with us.'</p> - -<p>"Upon this the giant picked them both up and walked -off in the direction which Jack pointed out. Presently -they came to a house.</p> - -<p>"'Stop!' said Jack, and the giant set them down.</p> - -<p>"'Eat the man who lives in that house,' said Jack.</p> - -<p>"'Poh!' cried Growlegrum, and gave the house a kick -which knocked it down in a twinkling. Then he pulled -out of the ruins a man who began to roar for mercy.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'Oh dear!' he said, 'Don't eat me, and I will never -fib any more, and never make any more speeches ever -again.'</p> - -<p>"'Who is he?' asked the giant. '<i>A member of Congress</i>,' -cried Jack.</p> - -<p>"'Eat <i>him?</i> eat <i>him!</i> said the giant, 'I don't want to -be poisoned. You must think I am a fool.'</p> - -<p>"'Eat him!' cried Jack.</p> - -<p>"'No, sir,' said Krusstikuss. 'I'd rather leave. If I -must die I would like to die easy.'</p> - -<p>"So saying the giant gave a groan and set off across -the hills. I do not know where he went, but I suppose -he travelled home to his mamma, and told her what a fool -Jack had made of him.</p> - -<p>"As soon as the giant had gone Jack and Prince -Bluets went to the castle and set free the Princess and -all the babies, who showed their gratitude by screaming -for a week. But perhaps this might have been owing to -the dough-nuts they had eaten.</p> - -<p>"I do believe there never was such a wedding as that -of Prince Bluets and Princess Violet, for all the fairy -folk came, and Cinderella and all the fairy godmothers, -and Aladdin, and Prince Nosey, and the seven champions, -and Hop O'my Thumb, Goody Two Shoes, and Red -Riding Hood. All of them brought presents to the bride, -but the Prince gave her only his love and took away from -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> -her the amulet for fear it should make any one love her -more than he could."</p> - -<hr class="sect" /> - -<p>During the next week it rained so hard every day -that no one of the spider's family could venture out of -their den.</p> - -<p>It was no wonder that they became hungry for stories, -and that at the first gleam of sunshine they all ran -together and began to pull at the line of cobweb to which -poor Fuz-Buz was fettered.</p> - -<p>As for Fuz-Buz he was so wet and cold that he crawled -out of his hole with trouble and pain.</p> - -<p>"Ah, my dears!" cried he. "I ache all over with the -gout. We lived too high in Spain I fear."</p> - -<p>"Bother the gout!" said the spiders.</p> - -<p>"Tell us a new story, and pretty soon too, or mammy -will eat you, and won't that be worse than the gout?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know," answered Fuz-Buz, "I think I would -rather be eaten up at once, and have it over."</p> - -<p>"Ha! ha!" cried Mrs. Grabem, who overheard what -the fly had said.</p> - -<p>"Ha! ha! you would like to be eaten; would you -like to have your legs pulled off and your wings torn, -and—-?"</p> - -<p>"Oh dear! oh dear!" shrieked Fuz-Buz. "Pray stop, -I am all in a shiver. I will never be so hasty again."</p> - -<div class="figcenter bord"><a name="i_062.jpg" id="i_062.jpg"></a> - <img src="images/i_062.jpg" width="600" height="404" - alt="Ha! ha! you would like to be eaten." /> -</div> - -<p>"Very well," returned the spider firmly. "See that -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> -you remember what I have said, and on no account venture -to keep my blessed little children waiting. It spoils -their tempers for life. I will have no more of it."</p> - -<p>When Mrs. Grabem ceased, all the young spiders cried -aloud,</p> - -<p>"You had better take care, or mammy will finish -you!"</p> - -<p>"How are your legs?" said one.</p> - -<p>"Where is that story?" said another.</p> - -<p>"Here it is," answered Fuz-Buz, tapping his head. "I -have it all here ever since the day I heard it told by a -famous Dervish at the porch of the great Mosque of -Salamanca."</p> - - -<p class="noindent ac p2"><span class="sc">Mustapha, or the Musical Gourd.</span></p> - -<p>"In the year of the Hegira, 709, and the twelfth of our -Caliph Haroun, the Magnificent, there lived in the royal -city of Bagdad a cobbler of the name of Ali Ben Slippah.</p> - -<p>"His shop was small, but being well situated at the -corner of the street of the Prophet, and the great street of -Mosques, the cobbler managed to live very comfortably, -so that with the aid of Smyrna tobacco and a contented -disposition which the poet has well called the 'Pipe of -the just,' he eked out a tranquil life free from care and -ambition.</p> - -<p>"His house was neatly kept by his daughter Lelie, or -the Dark-eyed, who was a little maiden with lips like the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> -roses of Istamboul, and cheeks as darkly lovely as the -brown lilies of Ispahan.</p> - -<p>"Besides these the sole remaining member of their -household was a great black cat known by the name of -Yussef, or the Hump-backed, because she was always in -an evil humour, and was forever hunching her back up -to show how cross she felt.</p> - -<p>"It so chanced that when Lelie was a child this cat -pursued by boys and dogs had taken refuge with Lelie, -who had saved her life. Thenceforward she had never -left her, but was so jealous of her mistress that it was -enough to look at her to drive the Pussy crazy with -rage.</p> - -<p>"Now to let you into a secret. You should know that -Yussef was a wicked genius who for a terrible crime had -been condemned to live an hundred years in the body of -a cat.</p> - -<p>"About the time at which this trap story begins, a -young soldier of the Caliph's guard, whose name was -Mustapha, fell in love with Lelie, and as he was very -handsome and clever, was so lucky as to make her also -love him in return.</p> - -<p>"Unhappily for them both, Yussef overheard Mustapha -speaking of the day when they were to be married, and -at once fell into a fit of jealousy which was dreadful -to see.</p> - -<p>"In her wrath she flew at Mustapha and scratched his -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> -nose, then knocked down and broke the cobbler's best -chibouque, and at length dashed out of the house just as -Ali Ben Slippah threw his lap-stone at her in fierce -anger, because of his broken pipe.</p> - -<p>"It was late in the evening when Yussef darted out, -and with her heart full of jealous rage bounded up the -walls and over the house-tops, until at last she seated herself -on a gable and began to think.</p> - -<p>"As it became later she was suddenly aware of a noble-looking -person who was walking slowly along, followed -at a short distance by four guards with drawn scimetars.</p> - -<p>"As soon as Yussef saw the cavalier she knew that he -was the Caliph, and remembering that he was then seeking -everywhere for beautiful women to wait upon his sick -daughter, she formed on the moment the most spiteful -scheme of mischief that ever you heard of.</p> - -<p>"With two or three crazy leaps she alighted at the feet -of the Caliph and began to miaou a tune of the most singular -character.</p> - -<p>"'By the beard of the Prophet!' said Haroun al Raschid, -'This is passing wonderful! Catch that cat!'</p> - -<p>"But Yussef was too quick for that. She turned two -somersaults, and miaoued again. The guards and the -Caliph followed her in wonder, while she retreated until -they came to the cobbler's door. Here she miaoued once -more, and leaped into an open window.</p> - -<p>"When the Caliph drew near as she had desired he -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> -would do, he looked into the window and saw the beautiful -Lelie.</p> - -<p>"'Bismillah!' cried he, as he thrust back the guards. -'Blessed be cats for evermore! Here is the maiden I have -sought for my daughter.'</p> - -<p>"So saying, he turned and gave brief orders to his -attendants bidding them be careful and secret; and thus -saying moved away quietly through the deserted streets.</p> - -<p>"Very early next morning when the cobbler had gone -to market Yussef heard a noise, and looking saw the -shop full of black slaves who seized Lelie, muffled her in -a shawl, and leaving a bag of gold on the counter hurried -away swiftly.</p> - -<p>"As soon as they left Yussef hastened after them, and -when they entered a gilded caique on the Tigris, she also -tried to leap into the boat. But to her dismay one of the -guards seized her by the tail and threw her thirty feet -away into the river.</p> - -<p>"Yussef spluttered and spit as she came to the surface, -and must surely have been drowned had she been a real -cat.</p> - -<p>"As it was she lost three out of her nine lives, and unluckily -came to land on the premises of a tanner where -she was set upon by six dogs who tore her hair out and -bit her tail, and altogether so misused her that she came -to look more like a bit of ill-used foot-rug than a respectable -Maltese cat.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> - -<p>"At last, with her heart full of rage and her stomach -full of water, she reached home to find the poor cobbler -in the utmost grief for the loss of his daughter.</p> - -<p>"By and by he resigned himself to his fate, and seeing -well that no common person had stolen the maiden, he -smoked the more abundantly, and like a true believer -took comfort in that verse of the Koran which says, 'All -things that are are well; but some, saith the Prophet, are -disagreeable.'</p> - -<p>"Meanwhile poor Mustapha became nearly crazed -with grief. He roamed the streets all day, and at evening -returned to the cobbler's in the vain hope of hearing -some news of Lelie.</p> - -<p>"On one of these occasions he was so unlucky as to -stumble over Yussef who gave him a fierce scratch, and -fled from his wrath to devise new plans of mischief, for -although Lelie was gone, she was lost to herself as -well as to Mustapha, and the cat never had ceased to hate -him as the cause of all her troubles.</p> - -<p>"Yussef therefore resolved to rid herself of his presence, -and she set about it after her own wicked fashion.</p> - -<p>"Some two or three nights later Mustapha was wandering -sadly in the gardens of the Caliph when he heard -a voice from the trees above him saying,</p> - -<p>"'Come to-night to the tomb of the Caliphs, under the -cedars, on the road to Damascus, and thou shalt hear -news of thy love.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> - -<p>"The voice sounded like that of Lelie, and the soldier -in vain sought about him on every side for its source. At -length the words were repeated and he made up his mind -to obey them.</p> - -<p>"It was near midnight when Mustapha found himself -at the appointed spot. All Bagdad lay behind him -still and slumbering. Here and there a long arrow of -light darted from some tall minaret, while the full moon-light -pouring down on the Mosque of El Rahab lit up its -golden dome like a mound of fire.</p> - -<p>"Before him the quiet groves of fig and olive, pomegranates -and mourning cypresses stretched away for -miles, bounded in the far distance by the curves of the -Tigris, whose broad bendings flashed in the light like -gigantic scimetars.</p> - -<p>"As Mustapha approached the Caliph's tomb he came -to an open space girt in by dense thickets. Pushing these -aside he stepped cautiously forward, for he heard a sound -of music and voices.</p> - -<p>"Presently a fire flashed up on the open ground among -the ruined tombs, and the soldier shook with fear as he -looked on what its light revealed.</p> - -<p>"Seated about the slope which led downwards on -every side to a broken tomb were gigantic figures in -white robes that floated about them like mist, so that -only sometimes he could see their solemn faces.</p> - -<p>"From the tomb came slowly a long procession of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> -Ghouls and Vampires and Afrites of hideous shapes, such -as men see in dreams, while all the air and the ground -seemed to be alive with a myriad of little winged forms -who hovered about like butterflies.</p> - -<p>"At last there was silence, when Yussef suddenly appeared -before the tallest of the Genii, and miaoued frightfully.</p> - -<p>"Then the Genie said in a mild great voice, 'What -would you of your brethren?'</p> - -<p>"'The man,' said Yussef, 'who has mocked my fallen -estate and stolen my love from me is here awaiting judgment.'</p> - -<p>"When Mustapha heard these words he was ready to -die with fear, but his limbs refused to bear him away and -he was forced to support himself by grasping a tree.</p> - -<p>"'Oh King,' cried Yussef, 'Let him be brought to -thee.'</p> - -<p>"'Be it so!' said the Genie.</p> - -<p>"At this two fearful-looking Afrites leaped into the air, -and with one swoop of their clawed wings alighted beside -Mustapha. Then they seized him and thrust him into -the circle before the cloudy form of the King of the Genii -who thus addressed him.</p> - -<p>"'It is not given us to slay, but that thou shalt no more -trouble us we order thee to become a gourd, and as we -may not sentence any to an endless fate it shall be that -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> -when it pleaseth Allah to turn thee inside out thou shalt -then only assume again the form of man.'</p> - -<p>"'It is well,' cried Yussef. 'Thanks, oh King!'</p> - -<p>"At these words Mustapha fainted. When he recovered -he found himself hanging on a vine near by, and -presently discovered that he was a huge green gourd.</p> - -<p>"After this many days fled away, and Mustapha the -gourd grew bigger and bigger, and at last began to ripen -and turn yellow.</p> - -<p>"Every night as he hung on the vine he saw the strange -midnight meetings of the Genii and Ghouls and Afrites. -All the wonderful things he heard and saw no one will -ever know, for he saw their wild feasts and dances, and -heard music such as before no mortal ears had ever -listened to.</p> - -<p>"At length one warm summer morning two farmers -came by on the way to market.</p> - -<p>"'Bismillah!' cried one, as he saw the great gourd -Mustapha. 'What a monstrous gourd!'</p> - -<p>"'Let us take it with us and sell it,' said the second.</p> - -<p>"Thus saying he took a knife from his girdle and cut -the stem by which Mustapha hung. This caused him so -much pain that he cried aloud,</p> - -<p>"'What's that?' said the farmer. 'The gourd speaks! -It is alive!'</p> - -<p>"Upon this he pricked the gourd with his knife. At -this Mustapha exclaimed, 'Don't!'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'Mahomet!' said the farmer. 'The thing is enchanted. -It will fetch us a fortune.'</p> - -<p>"Shortly afterwards they carried the gourd to the -market. Here they made a goodly fortune by running -pins into Mustapha that he might cry out for the amusement -of the by-standers.</p> - -<p>"Before long all Bagdad flocked to see and hear this -wonderful gourd, and at last an officer of the Caliph's -household arrived, payed a great sum for the gourd, and -putting it in a basket, carried it away to the Palace.</p> - -<p>"By and by Mustapha found himself in a superb -room of the Palace, where, surrounded by her ladies, the -Princess lay upon a couch.</p> - -<p>"Suddenly Mustapha the gourd as he lay in his basket -heard the voice of his beloved Lelie who was fanning the -Princess.</p> - -<p>"This so moved poor Mustapha that he cried aloud,</p> - -<p>"'Allah! I hear my love!' and so saying rolled from -the basket and fell at Lelie's feet.</p> - -<p>"'Mahomet!' cried the Princess. 'The thing is bewitched! -take it away!'</p> - -<p>"But as for Lelie the words were as sweet music to -her, and seizing the gourd she placed it tenderly in the -basket and carried it to her room. Here she implored it -with tears to speak again, but in vain; so that at last she -was forced to leave it and return to the Princess.</p> - -<p>"Soon after she had gone Mustapha was aware of a -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> -rose-colored cloud in the room, out of which grew into -shape the form of a huge Genie which thus addressed -him.</p> - -<p>"'Know, frail mortal, that I am your guardian spirit. -I have heard with pity of your sad fate and am come to -give you a chance for life again. Perhaps what I shall -do for you may render your position better. Unluckily I -cannot give to you once more your mortal shape.'</p> - -<p>"With these words the figure inclined towards him -gravely and touched his yellow cheek. He shuddered -and lost consciousness.</p> - -<p>"What next was his amazement to find himself standing -in the shop of Harim, the merchant. Presently he -began to look at himself with curious care. He had a -gold head like that of a bird, with ruby eyes. His neck -was of satin wood, long and slim, while his clothes which -were stiffened with whalebone and wire, resembled petticoats -upside down.</p> - -<p>"'Allah il Allah!' cried he, 'What an existence!'</p> - -<p>"Just then a Dervish looking at him asked the merchant, -'What is that?'</p> - -<p>"'It is,' answered he, 'a Frankish device which the -men in Frangistan carry to keep off the rain. Their -women are only allowed to carry smaller ones, so they -make up for that by bearing them about in fair as well as -wet weather.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'A device of Eblis!' exclaimed the Dervish, and muttering -a verse of the Koran, walked gravely away.</p> - -<p>"By and by came the grand Purveyor of the Caliph. -He was seeking new and curious things for the Princess, -who was ill and refused to eat so that day after day she -became more feeble.</p> - -<p>"'Ah!' said the Purveyor, 'This is a Frank tent. I -saw them when I was Envoy to the court of Charlemagne.'</p> - -<p>"At this Mustapha blushed, for the officer seized him -and began to expand his skirts so that his leg, for he had -but one, was alarmingly exposed.</p> - -<p>"Very soon the Purveyor, having paid a good price, -took Mustapha away to the Palace where he explained -the uses of this portable tent.</p> - -<p>"'This,' said he, 'Is what the Franks, whom Allah -confound! call an umbrella, and the female of the thing -they term a parasol.'</p> - -<p>"'I shall need it not,' said the Princess Ellera. 'No -sun will shine on me any more. On me no rain will -fall. I shall die if I find nothing that I can eat.'</p> - -<p>"'Take it Lelie,' she cried, 'As thou hast lost thy -gourd, take it.'</p> - -<p>"Upon this Lelie took Mustapha away and placed him -in a quiet corner of her room.</p> - -<p>"Meanwhile some days went by, and all the cooks -tried in vain to please the sick Princess. All day long -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> -an army of slaves went past her bed, each bearing some -rare dish or some luscious fruit, but still alas! in vain; -so that at length the doctors decided that if she did not eat -within a day she would surely die.</p> - -<p>"Lelie, who was in great distress, left the Princess and -went to her own room to weep alone. At last she arose -to go out into the garden, thinking that perhaps the -Princess might be tempted by a rose-leaf salad.</p> - -<p>"As she walked past Mustapha he cried aloud, 'Take -me.'</p> - -<p>"'This is queer,' said she, but when the words were -repeated she clutched the Frankish toy and ran out into -the garden. Here she wandered long, but as evening -fell she suddenly saw that a storm had gathered.</p> - -<p>"Before she could reach the Palace, a wild gust of -wind caught in Mustapha's skirts and nearly tore him -from her hand. As she struggled the wind expanded his -petticoats, and at last crack went the wires, and then -what do you think?</p> - -<p>"Mustapha was turned inside out, and the umbrella -was a man once more.</p> - -<p>"In a moment he explained everything, but after he had -kissed her twice she began to sob, for now she knew that -he had escaped one evil fate only to light upon another as -fearful.</p> - -<p>"'Ah!' she cried, 'a man! You, a soldier, in the -gardens of the Palace! You will be put to death at -once.'</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> - -<p>"'No!' he answered, after thinking a little. 'Not if I -can save the Princess. Let us go to the Caliph and confess -all. Meanwhile have no fears.'</p> - -<p>"Lelie at last gave her consent, and with trembling -steps she left him, and seeking the Princess related their -strange story.</p> - -<p>"In a moment all was confusion. A man in the -harem!</p> - -<p>"'Bowstrings and sacks!' cried the captain of the -guard, as he hurried Mustapha before the Caliph.</p> - -<p>"'Wretch!' said Al Raschid the Caliph, 'Who art -thou?'</p> - -<p>"'A soldier,' said Mustapha.</p> - -<p>"'Let him die!' cried Al Raschid.</p> - -<p>"'Oh Caliph,' answered Mustapha, 'In the land of the -Genii it was given me once to learn secrets of the vile -Franks, wherewith it may be that I can save thy daughter -the Princess.'</p> - -<p>"'Thou dost lie like unto a rusty weathercock,' said -the Caliph, 'But that none may say I am unjust, take this -man to the kitchen. Let him do his best, and if he fail -have him strangled instantly.'</p> - -<p>"'It is well said,' replied Mustapha.</p> - -<p>"Very soon he was left alone in the great kitchen of -the Palace, while all the strange things he had seen at -the feasts of the Genii came back to his mind.</p> - -<p>"Presently he sought about him among the stores of -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> -provisions, and took from a basket those striped apples -which grow by the brooks of Alkeldrina.</p> - -<p>"These he pared deftly and set each within a cup of -wheaten dough, such as only the Caliph's farms can furnish. -Therein he placed also the golden orange-peel and -the spices of distant Borneo. Lastly, he sprinkled it -within and without with the aromatic sugar of Turkan, -and hanging each apple thus prepared in a silken net -carefully cooked them.</p> - -<p>"When they were ready he placed them upon golden -dishes, and threw over each a hail of snowy sugar and -fragrant cinnamon, covering all with a handful of almond -blossoms.</p> - -<p>"Then he called the guard, and with scimetars crossed -over his head he was allowed to carry his dish to the -Princess. As she looked languidly upon it he shook off -the blossoms.</p> - -<p>"'Then,' said the Princess, 'These be the roses of -Paradise which I do smell.'</p> - -<p>"At these words he knelt down and offered the dish to -the lady. Wonderful to tell the Princess called for a -silver fork and ate up the whole of the apples so greedily -that she scalded her throat in the most dreadful way.</p> - -<p>"But between every mouthful she blessed poor Mustapha -as the king of cooks, and from that instant she -recovered so quickly as to disgust all the doctors, who -said Mustapha was a quack, and went away.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span></p> - -<p>"Of course he married Lelie, and had a patent for -making this wonderful dish, and was created Lord -Marquis of Apple-butter and Duke of Dumplings, and -lived merrily all his days."</p> - -<hr class="sect" /> - -<p>"That's a good story," cried the spiders.</p> - -<p>"Glad you like it," said Fuz-Buz. "Now if you please -I will sleep, as I am tired."</p> - -<p>In this pleasant way the days went by until Fuz-buz -had told them nine hundred and ninety-nine stories.</p> - -<p>On this last evening he overheard the spiders talking -as he lay tied by the leg in a deep dark crack of the -apple tree where he slept.</p> - -<p>"My children," said the old spider, "After Fuz-Buz -has told us one more story we will eat him. It will be -best to wait until after dark, and then seize him on a sudden -and kill him; for he is a very strong fly, and may -give me trouble."</p> - -<p>They all agreed to this excepting the youngest, who -said it would be a shame to serve him so, and that they -ought to let him go.</p> - -<p>But Mrs. Grabem replied, "You know nothing of -house-keeping my dear. Go to sleep and hold your -tongue."</p> - -<p>When Fuz-Buz overheard all this he was scared to -death. All next day he was so sick that he could not -even tell the shortest story.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> - -<p>At night-fall when the family had gone to their den, he -sat on the tree near his cosy little crack and tried to gnaw -the web which held him.</p> - -<p>Unluckily it was too tough. When he was in despair -who should hum by but a huge Bee.</p> - -<p>"Halloa!" said he, "What's wrong with you?"</p> - -<p>"Sir!" replied Fuz-Buz, "I am tied by the leg to this -web, and am to be eaten to-night by a cruel monster of a -spider who lives near, and who will overhear you if you -do not speak in a low voice."</p> - -<p>"Who's afraid?" said the Bee. "Which leg is it?"</p> - -<p>"This," answered Fuz-Buz.</p> - -<p>"Pshaw!" cried the Bee, and with that he twisted the -web about his legs and gave a jump. Snap went the -line and Fuz-buz was free once more. Never a fly was -so glad as he.</p> - -<p>"Sir!" he said, "I am only sorry that you have not -had the honour to slay this vile spider. Now if you were -to slip into this crack where I sleep, you would have a -fine chance, because when Mrs. Grabem comes to eat -me you could give her a pleasing surprise."</p> - -<p>"That's a rather jolly notion," answered the Bee. So -he went down on the ground, and after sharpening his -sting on a smooth pebble, thrust himself deep into the -crack where Fuz-Buz was wont to sleep.</p> - -<p>But as for Fuz-Buz the fly, he sat on a limb above and -looked on. After a little, when it was dark or nearly so, -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> -out came Mrs. Grabem slowly, and crawling over her -web went down into the crack to murder poor innocent -Fuz-Buz. Presently she cried aloud,</p> - -<p>"Oh! I'm dead!" which was true in a moment, for Sir -Bee had run his long sword straight through her, and she -had tumbled off the tree as dead as could be.</p> - -<p>At the sound of her voice all the young spiders ran out, -and in a moment they saw Sir Bee with his quick sword. -In a twinkling he stabbed them one after another, until -he came to the youngest. Then Fuz-Buz said,</p> - -<p>"Halloa! my friend, let this one go, for he was the -only one who did not desire to kill me."</p> - -<p>"Sir!" cried the youngest spider, "I do not wish to -live after you have killed my mother and all my brothers -and sisters. Take that, sir!"</p> - -<p>So saying he dealt the Bee such a crack that he was -forced to stab him like the rest, and there at last was the -end of all of them.</p> - -<p>As for Fuz-Buz, he said "Well, it's one spider less, -and so many flies more. Spiders are of no use and flies -are."</p> - -<p>Meanwhile Sir Bee wiped his sword and took up his -bag of honey, feeling that he had done a clever day's -work, while Fuz-Buz flew away to Spain, and never -could be brought to tell anybody a story long or short up -to the end of his happy life.</p> - -<div class="transnote"> - -<h2>Transcriber's Note:</h2> - -<ul> - <li>Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Otherwise spelling - variations were not changed.</li> - <li>Ambiguous hyphens at the ends of lines were retained.</li> - <li>Mid-paragraph illustrations have been moved between paragraphs and some illustrations - have been moved closer to the text that references them. The List of Illustrations - paginations were changed accordingly.</li> -</ul> -</div> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wonderful Stories of Fuz-Buz the -Fly and Mother Grabem the Spider, by Silas Wier Mitchell - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FUZ-BUZ THE FLY *** - -***** This file should be named 52899-h.htm or 52899-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/8/9/52899/ - -Produced by MWS, Christian Boissonnas and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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